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Coming Events 

A list of forthcoming events can be viewed on the COMING EVENTS page.  Start times and other details of open meetings and club points and handicap races are also listed on the PROGRAMME page.

Tamesis reunion in Antigua

As members in Teddington were wrapping up warm to resist the early morning frosts and cold northerly winds of late January, Jeremy and Max Vines flew over to Antigua to visit Adrian and Jane Fearnley.  The picture below shows them enjoying a pre-lunch drink.  "We did not go for a sail as it was a bit too rough for Jane", said Adrian.

Max, Adrian, Jane and Jeremy

Death of Diana Phillimore 

Members will learn with great sadness of the death on 18 January of Diana Phillimore, a member of Tamesis for many years, following a long fight against cancer. She was 75. Diana and her late husband Julian were enthusiastic Merlin sailors and sailed at Ranelagh SC in the early years.  Diana moved to Tamesis after her husband's death and also sailed at Salcombe, where she had a second home.  

Diana had many friends at Tamesis and gave the Club its Christmas Tree. 

The funeral will be on Monday 6 February at 10 am at All Saints Church, Upper Norwood (http://www.allsaintsuppernorwood.co.uk) followed by a Cremation at 11 am.   Flowers or donations to cancer research or The Cats Protection League, should be sent to Francis Chappell & Sons,105 Church Road, Upper Norwood, London SE19 2PR. Tel 020 8653 0492.

Diana in September 2011

Preserving the records of Kingston's clubs and societies 

Dr Christopher French, a university lecturer who was recruited to archive and preserve the records of Kingston's clubs and societies, gave a computer-illustrated talk on Kingston at Leisure at the first of Tamesis Club's 2012 suppers on Thursday 5 January.  He emphasised the importance of clubs and societies in the development of local communities and gave examples of archives such as those of the Hampton Hill Cricket Club having been destroyed in fires at the premises in which they were kept.  The official records were being kept in fireproof boxes and had been indexed so they could be accessed by anyone who had an interest in them.  He and his team of volunteers had so far approached more than 200 clubs of which 40 had deposited their records.  

He told of how the butchers businesses in Surbiton had set up a football league with weekly matches on a local recreation ground between the "Northern Butchers" and the "Southern Butchers"  and how the diaries kept by the daughter of the landlord at the Red Lion public house had provided a valuable record of the area in which the pub was the terminus of the electric tram system that was in use at the time.  He also showed a Searle-style cartoon of members of a ladies' tennis club trying to break down the locked gates of their tennis courts with a battering ram after the European Union had introduced the five day week and the staff had taken the week-end off.

The work was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and concentrated on the seven localities in the Royal Borough from the mid-19th century to the present day.

At the end of the talk Tamesis Commodore John Adams presented Dr French with a copy of "The History of Tamesis Club", written by Merlin helmsman and journalist Berry Ritchie, and published in 2002.

Dr French talking on "Kingston at Leisure"

Before the start of the talk, Vice Commodore Stewart Colley asked Nicky Chavasse to present the prize for the Mystery tree climber competition (see below) to Joanna Rand, the first member to send in the correct answer.  Joanna received a phial of olive oil from the olives picked from the tree in Italy together with more pictures of the event.

Nicky Chavasse is guest of honour at Wednesday Working Party Christmas lunch 

Nicky Chavasse was the guest of honour at the Tamesis Wednesday Morning Working Party's Christmas lunch on Wednesday 21 December and presented diplomas of 
competence to Alan Green, Kevin Prince and Chris Pollard to recognise their help in clearing out the kitchen grease trap every week.  She marked her presentataion with an amusing poem which described what they did and she was cheered and loudly applauded by the 21 members present.  

Nicky's poem "THE GREASE TRAP BOYS" -

They come in the morning
Uniforms adorning – the most beautiful boiler suits
Steely stomachs to the ready
Fan, charged and extractors wound to the max
On with the work – no time to relax!

Tools for scooping, scraping and draining,
Hoses to the fore, dig deep and find some more,
What’s that stench say the others
Oh nothing say the grease trap brothers – just the usual.

Flexing the knees, bending the elbows, reaching into the trap,
After a thorough workout, they are due for a nap,
England’s here they cheer – time for a beer,
Oh no chaps coffee is what we have here.

The lunch also celebrated the 70th birthday of Richard Howells, one of the club's two Harbour Masters, who was also loudly applauded for buying all the drinks.  Club Captain Phil England congratulated Richard on his success in obtaining frequent nominations for Uffa's Spoon, the award for the biggest gaffe of the year.  Alan Green led the entire company in singing "Happy Birthday", "Why was he born so beautiful" and "One man went to mow", in recognition of an incident involving the club's lawn mower and a recent unfortunate breakdown after it hit a solid object in the dinghy park. 

Nicky Chavassee reading her poem (Photo:  Peter Mason)

Richard Howells celebrates his birthday (Photo:  Peter Mason)

Ted Neal and Charles Fox set a trap with a flying balloon (Photo:  Phil England)

Moral - never lend your camera to an itinerant ballonist (Photo:  guess who)

Santa didn't come to the Christmas lunch 

Tamesis members were disappointed when Santa Claus did not pay them his usual visit at their annual Christmas lunch on Sunday 11 December.  Some 85 members who had assembled for the event feared the jolly bearded present bringer might have taken umbrage at their inability in a Christmas quiz to name the eight reindeer who pull his sleigh. Numerous mentions of the red nosed Rudolph, a popular imposter, did not help.  Nor did the absence of the club launch, which had mysteriously slipped its moorings, and had to be rescued by the standby rescue boat.  In the past Santa and reindeer have often arrived by river.  Or it may be that too many naughty sailors were in breach of Rule 42 (rocking and rolling) in the Christmas pudding race which preceded the lunch.  Whatever the reason, he didn't appear, even for the traditional carols, which were melodiously led by Brian and Caroline Timbrell with the Lasers giving a rousing "Five gold rings" in a table by table sing round of "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me".   Jon Redding's table won the quiz.  

Vice Commodore Stewart Colley did his best to jollify the proceedings but had to admit that the incident with the rescue boat was serious and would have to be referred to Uffa the Spoon.  Commodore John Adams rang the bell a number of times to restore order but the loudest applause went to Steve Katz and his many helpers who cooked and carved the turkey, roast gammon, and Christmas puddings and served in Phil's Bar.

The rescue boat rescues the rescue boat (Photo:  Phil England)

Charles Fox, Captain Phil England and Commodorable Lesley Adams discuss the saga of the missing rescue boat

Vice Commodore Stewart Colley explains Santa's absence

Steve Katz, Peter Mason, Steve Osgood and Paul Jamieson carve the turkey

Sailing Secretary Paul Jamieson, Angela Caldara and Steve Katz with Christmas pudding

Commodore John Adams presents a Christmas pudding to Alan Green

Rosalind Warwick-Haller won a Christmas pudding sailing her Laser

Marie and Eddy Simmonds, Pat Osgood and Jean Meredith enjoy a drink in front of the Christmas Tree

A new Eden in Nairobi 

Commodore John Adams gave a Thursday evening supper talk to 35 Tamesis members and guests on 1 December about the Wangarai Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies near Nairobi in Kenya. Born in Kenya, where his father was a forester, John said he had a special interest in the plans for an institute to help spread the concepts of sustainable management of natural resources championed by Wangari Maathai, a professor at the University of Nairobi and the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She also founded the Green Belt Movement set up to encourage and empower local communities, particularly the women, to plant trees to help mitigate against the loss of forest in Kenya.  

His company, which was closely involved in the Eden Project in Cornwall, competed successfully as part of a design team to put forward proposals for a similar project on a 50 acre site in Kenya. This was to be an institute to help promote and teach the ideas of Wangari Maathai on the principles of sustainable management of natural resources, and their contribution to peace and democracy to everyone from politicians, academics and practitioners.

Wangari Maathai sadly died in September 2011. Tributes to her flooded in from all, including Barak Obama, praising her as a world leader with a clarity of thought and ability to relate to and inspire all levels of society which is very rare.

Mystery tree climber

This well known Tamesis member is picking fruit from a tree in a Mediterranean country a thousand miles away from Teddington.  Some of it might be served at the Christmas lunch or earlier.  Who is she, where is she and what is the fruit?  A prize for the first correct answer.  

Peter Simpson presented with RYA Award by Princess Anne 

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, President of the Royal Yachting Association, presented a Lifetime Commitment Award to Peter Simpson at a ceremony that preceded the RYA's annual meeting in London on Wednesday 23 November.  Peter was one of 31 sailors from all areas of the UK who were selected for awards.  He was nominated by Tamesis in recognition of the many years he has devoted to helping to promote sailing and training the younger generation of sailors and ensuring that the club has all the kit needed and that it is ready and available for the task.  

Peter Simpson (Photo:  Stewart Colley)

Peter shows his award to Commodore John Adams (Photo: Robert Harris)

To see a videoclip of HRH presenting the awards please click on http://www.rya.org.uk/newsevents/news/Pages/RYA%20Volunteer%20Awards.aspx

Tea party jazzes up the prizegiving

In a major change from previous years, Tamesis held a prizegiving tea party instead of a formal prizegiving dinner and more than 50 members young and old assembled at the Clubhouse on Saturday 19 November to collect their prizes from Nicola Colley, the wife of Vice Commodore Stewart Colley. They were later entertained by and danced to music played by The Gentlemen of Jazz.

The proceedings were introduced by Commodore John Adams and a delicious buffet of cold meats, salad, cakes, mince pies and ice cream was prepared by Steve Katz with help from Rachael, Camilla, Jo, Jenna and Sue.

To see the full list of trophy winners please click on  PRIZEWINNERS.

Commodore John Adams rings the bell for tea

Entertainment by The Gentlemen of Jazz

Steve Bartlett gets the Turtle Trophy for the capsize of the year

Charles Fox (holding trophy) and his National 18 crew of the year

David Baker with the Merlin Summer Handicap Trophy, Nicola Colley and Jim Green

Matthew Peregrine Jones with the Saga Trophy and Nicola Colley

Jodok Gerber with the Laser Winter Handicap Trophy

Donald Forbes with the Laser Frostbite Mug and Rear Commodore Carolyne Vines

Nicola Colley presents the N18 Summer Trophy to Doug Pope

Funeral of Pat Derham 

The funeral of Mrs Pat Derham was held at St Anne's Church, Chertsey on Monday 14 November, followed by a reception at Tamesis Club. Pat was Rear Commodore (House) from 1993 to 1994 and wife of Louis Derham who was Commodore of Tamesis in 1985, the Club's centenary year.  She died in hospital on Saturday 29 October after a long illness.

Louis was Commodore from 1984 to 1987 and Vice Commodore from 1980 to 1983.  Both he and Pat visited the Club in June last year to present the Centenary Cup after it was raced for in an inter-class marathon during the 125th anniversary on Sunday 6 June.  They sailed with the National 18s and the Tamesis Offshore Group. Pat  was also a leading member of the Tamesis Bridge Group.  

Vivian Burchill, Vice Commodore in 1988 and 89, paid tribute at the funeral to Pat for her many years of service to Tamesis, to her cheerful willingness to take on numerous tasks in the management of the club and to the welcome she gave to new members. 

The present Commodore, John Adams, said at the reception that Louis had requested that anyone who wished to make a donation in memory of Pat should do so to a charity of their own choice.  The club's ensign was flown at half mast in tribute to Pat during racing on Sunday 13 November and during the reception.

Louis (centre) after presenting the Centenary Cup in 2010. Pat's head can be seen on the right of the veranda behind the rail.

An obituary and photograph of Pat in The Guardian's Other Lives series can be viewed by clicking on the following link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jan/12/patricia-derham-obituary

Tamesis Bridge Drive raises £800 for Help For Heroes

A Charity Bridge Drive arranged by the Tamesis Bridge Group on Remembrance Sunday 13 November raised £800 for Help For Heroes. There were 14 tables and the afternoon included tea, with sandwiches and cakes provided by the ladies of the Bridge Group.

Special thanks go to the members of Tamesis Club, both those who play bridge and those who don’t, for their very generous donations to the raffle (a record 25 prizes!). This made sure the afternoon got off to a good start and also brought in lots of cash.  (Report by Vivian Burchill).

Boris's Island

Nearly 40 Tamesis members heard Peter Mason give a Thursday evening supper talk on 3 November on the London River Park, a floating walkway along the north bank of the Thames, linking the "Wobbly Bridge" to the Tower of London. At present the north bank has no easy pedestrian route unlike the south bank where a highly successful route has been created; the plan is to replicate the latter’s success as a destination for the City of London. The walkway will have park-like features of trees and grass, pavilions and a lido. London Mayor Boris Johnson is an enthusiastic supporter and the intent is to complete the project in time for the Diamond Jubilee next year, City Planning Committee willing. Peter is an adviser to the developer Venus Group.

Peter talking about the proposals for Boris's Island

RNLI day 

Tamesis members visited the Lifeboat stall at the club on RNLI day on Sunday 23 October to buy their Christmas cards, calendars and other Christmas gifts.

Tamesis hosts town-twinning bridge drive 

On Sunday evening 11 September Tamesis hosted a town-twinning bridge drive arranged by members of the Richmond Bridge Club who were entertaining visitors from Fontainebleau and Lake Konstanz. The bridge was preceded by drinks and a fish and chip supper, and this coincided with a ring-side view of David Walliams passing the Club on his marathon charity swim, cheered on by supporters on all sides. And with our bridge-playing guests, who half-believed that it was all arranged for them, Tammy was able to cheer him in three languages!  

Members of Tamesis looked after the arrangements, and Louise Humphrey was our Tournament Director. There were five tables, made up by the town-twinners and their hosts, and four made up by the Tamesis Bridge Group. A raffle held spontaneously during the evening raised £135 for the charity Medicin sans Frontieres.

The visitors from Fontainebleau and Koblenz, who really enjoyed the evening very much, were particularly warm in their speeches of thanks at the end. The previous morning, they had walked along the tow path opposite into Kingston, so they appreciated the river from both sides. Enchanté.!

Peggy Morris celebrates 90th birthday

Congratulations to Peggy Morris, one of Tamesis Club's oldest members, who celebrated her 90th birthday with a party at the club on Saturday 3 September.  In a speech welcoming more than 70 guests Peggy recalled how she and her late husband, Dr Colin Morris raced an International 14 at Tammy after the second world war in competition with famous helmsmen like Stewart Morris, who won a gold medal at the first post-war Olympics.  She told of the day the skipper of a passing river steamer swore at two Tamesis helmsmen who were in his way, castigating them as useless landlubbers, unaware he was being overheard by the occupants of a nearby river authority launch.  He was pursued to Teddington lock and brought back to apologise and found he was saying sorry to a Royal Navy admiral and a captain.

While Peggy was speaking, a flotilla of Dunkirk Little Ships, the original vessels which evacuated British troops from Dunkirk in 1940, passed down the Thames in the background on a rally to coincide with the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939.

Proposing a toast, Brian Southcott congratulated Peggy on reaching four score years and ten and Club Captain, Phil England, spoke warmly of Peggy's contribution to Tamesis over the past 65 years both as a sailor and more recently as a member of the Wednesday Bridge Club and the "veranda club" of elderly members who sit on the veranda on sunny days to watch the racing.

Peggy welcomes her guests on the veranda (Photo:  Viv Burchill)

Peggy cuts the cake (Photo:  Carolyne Vines)

Chris Pollard, Phil England and Viv Burchill (Photo:  Stewart Colley)

For more photos by Carolyne Vines please click on   Peggy's 90th Birthday Party

Anne Hutchins buys a Dutch barge to live on the Isle of Wight  

Anne Hutchins has sold her yacht and house and bought a 110 ft Dutch barge called Jan to live on in the Isle of Wight.  

She and her huband motored the barge from Hampton Court to Eel Pie Island for a survey, then to Greenwich for the bottom to be re-plated, and then took five days motoring from Greenwich to Cowes with overnight stops in Ramsgate, Eastbourne, and Gosport, and then to Island Harbour in the Medina where they have a pontoon just outside the lock, upstream of the holding pontoon.

Jan outside Island Harbour in the Medina

A team of six led by polar explorer Jock Wishart, a Tamesis member, on an expedition to row 450 miles across the Canadian Arctic to the magnetic North Pole reached their destination on Friday 26 August.  Members may recall seeing Jock's boat on a trailer in the Tamesis car park earlier this year.  For full report please go to  http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/rowing_the_arctic/

Swallow visits Tamesis 

Swallow, a lovingly restored dinghy that was used in the film of Arthur Ransome's classic sailing story Swallows and Amazons, was warmly welcomed by sailors of all ages when it visited Tamesis Club on Saturday 2 July.  The restoration of Swallow was organised by a group of Merlin Rocket sailors including Peter Fryer of Tamesis who shared the cost of buying the abandoned 14 ft. dinghy, having it restored, and arranging a tour of interested sailing clubs.  The visit co-incided with the weekly training session for Cadets and many of them enjoyed a short sail in her in light variable winds, along with many older members who were happily recalling their early memories of taking to the water in small boats  As Ransome advised Swallow's original crew, "Better drowned than duffers, if not duffers won't drown". Carolyne Vines, Rear Commodore Saiing, welcomed all the visitors and Nicky Chavasse arranged an informal bar on the club lawn to go with members'  picnic lunches.

Young sailors enjoying the sunshine in Swallow

Please click on Swallow Visit to TC 2.7.11 to see more pictures by Carolyne Vines.

Forty diners enjoy Ladies' night at Tamesis 

Forty lady members of Tamesis and their guests gathered in the Clubhouse on Saturday 18 June for the annual Ladies' Night when by tradition dinner is cooked and served by flag officers and members of the Management Committee.  So great was the volume of conversation during pre-dinner drinks that Vice Commodore Stewart Colley had to ring the bell four times before he could attract their attention to announce that dinner was served.  The five course meal of canapes with caviar, salad with artichokes, roast duck with new potatoes and beans, summer fruits including rasberries, strawberries and blueberries, cheese and coffee was prepared by Steve Katz with help from Club Captain Phil England and former Commodore Peter Mason.  David Baker supervised the drinks, John Harris and Colin Stokes served at the bar, and Chris Pollard, Jim Green and Rupert Fletcher served at the tables. An entertaining quiz was arranged by John Harris and the after dinner competition was organised by Colin Stokes.  

Phil England and Peter Mason in the kitchen

Stewart and Nicola Colley

Ladies at one of the competition winning tables

Can we start, please?

Club Captain cleans up after the ducks 

Club Captain Phil England hoses down the bench seats on the river frontage to clean off the duck droppings during the Wednesday Morning Working Party in preparation for spectators at the Centenary Cup.  (Photo:  Stewart Colley)

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01.02.12