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Friends of RTBP Winter 2021
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Dear Friends of the River Thames Boat Project,
It's that time of year when the days are starting to lengthen, the spring flowers are in bud and you feel optimistic about the coming months. But this year it's very difficult to foresee the future so the RTBP team are doing their best to be in a strong position when life gets going again.
As there has been little boating activity in recent months, the focus of this newsletter is on some of the people involved in the project. We have a thank you message from Lady Margaret Harrop, we welcome two new trustees to the board, our profile focuses on David Bell, one of our longest serving volunteers and, to make you a little envious, we hear from Peter Oldham about life on Brownsea Island.
The river has been eerily quiet with only the very occasional, very hardy, paddle boarder, once in a while a guy on his jet-ski and today, with snow-covered banks, there is only the wildlife.
Your comments and stories are as welcome as ever.
Kate Oatham, Editor
kate@rtbpfriends.org
From your Captain
 Inevitably, not much has changed since my last update but we do have some projects in the works.
The next major one will be to modify the anchoring system on Discoverer. I haven't even attempted to launch and recover this anchor and I can already tell it must be a real pain in the backside!
The plan is to fabricate a hawsepipe that will allow  a ship style anchor to be raised flush with the hull above the water line. We can utilise the existing winch and chain locker. A deck wash system will be plumbed from the engine room to the foredeck so we can keep the chain clean as it comes up. The current anchor can then be designed to be used as a stern anchor for times when we need to anchor fore and aft to maintain station.
Also, with the positive thoughts of birds chirping, sunshine, warm temps.....and most importantly.....controlled COVID numbers, comes the plan for Spring outfitting of the vessels. Fingers crossed we can move ahead with some normalcy this summer!
 With that in mind comes the planning for getting the vessels shipshape. The big project will be to paint the topsides (waterline to rub strake) on Discoverer. Tentative plans are to use a work float and move Discoverer forward into the protected berth at the Kingston Pier. A more comprehensive painting will take place in 2023 when she is hauled out for her PLA inspection.
I look forward to the time when we can get training and I can finally spend some quality time with all the volunteers at RTBP.
(Pictured above - new hand rails on Discoverer and workman's tools!)
Captain Gunnar Christensen
From Lady Margaret Harrop
 A very big thank you to so many of you who sent very kind cards and messages about Peter. As you know, he was involved with the boat project from the start, and saw it evolve from a gleam in the Mayor's eye to being a lively charity with two boats and large groups of enthusiastic volunteers and clients, not to mention a small and dedicated staff team. He loved going out on the river, whether as a crew member or mate, a passenger - or even a host to Prince Charles - and was delighted to be a trustee during an important stage of development. But perhaps the most important thing to him was the large number of friends he made among the volunteers, staff and trustees.
Please excuse me for not replying to you all individually but I assure you that the family and I very much appreciate your messages. I hope to catch up with a lot of you when we are able to enjoy boat outings and gatherings of the Friends of the RTBP. In the meantime, best wishes to you all and let's hope for a better 2021!
Margaret Harrop
Update on events
We hope you are all still keeping safe and well. A lot has happened since the last Friends newsletter!
 Despite COVID-19 restrictions, we managed to do two cruises in October with reduced group sizes and the new COVID-19 secure operating procedures in place. It was great to be back on the river on Thames Discoverer and to see our cruise passengers enjoy a much-needed change of scene.
The current lockdown means that we have had to suspend activities on the river again, but the usual background work that takes place at this time of year is progressing – boat maintenance, database work and grant applications, as well as staying connected with clients and supporters.
We held our AGM via Zoom on the 9th November and it worked very well. It wasn’t the same as being together physically, but it was lovely to see so many familiar faces. It was also a good opportunity to remember the positives of 2019 and to look ahead to returning to activities in 2021 when it is safe to do so.
 We enjoyed a Volunteer Christmas Social via Zoom in December instead of our usual crew supper. Glasses were raised to the River Thames Boat Project, mulled wine was supped, carols were sung, we had a little quiz, we played “pin the nose and eyes on the snowman” and there was a good collection of Christmas jumpers, tinsel and Santa hats. Pippa did a fantastic job as MC, managing everything on Zoom. It was great to enjoy the usual RTBP camaraderie!
The RTBP awards for 2020 went to:
The Light of Learning – Mike Mendelson for his involvement in all four of our only education days in 2020 and with the adaptations we made for School on the River to be Covid-19 secure.
The Bog Brush of Brilliance – Pete Gallon was key in 2020, sharing information about the boats with Gunnar, finding solutions and fixes for things, particularly on Thames Discoverer.
The Core of Commitment – Nigel Williams and Ian Chappell for their ever-willingness to get involved wherever help is needed on the boats.
The raffle prize winners were:
 Short cruise on Thames Discoverer – Mike Mendelson
Hamper – Terry Kemp
Champagne flutes and prosecco – Giles Dimock
Framed photo from John Frye – Ian Chappell
If any of you would like to fundraise in any way, do let us know. Every donation makes a difference. Please go to the RTBP website for details on how to support the charity: https://thamesboatproject.org/about/give/ We’ll keep you updated and if you have any ideas for fundraising, please share them by emailing Kate at kate@thamesboatproject.org
Cruises and education days for the Spring and Summer: we are planning for a restart of cruises and education days after Easter, hopefully in May/June, dependent on how things progress over the next few weeks. We will respond to changes as they are announced. Many of our cruise clients will be receiving the vaccination which is good news, and we are keeping in touch with them. Schools are currently closed, and this has now been extended until 8th March, but they are keen to be with us when it is possible.
We know that time on the boats will provide a welcome respite and a positive boost to everyone’s spirits. Private hire opportunities may also be available by the Summer and for the Autumn, dependent on group sizes and restrictions.
Kate Dodds, Marketing and Fundraising Manager
Education Update
Traditionally this is a fallow period in the Education calendar when preparations are made for the coming season and this year is no different, despite the current restrictions and the lingering legacy of Covid-19.
Sophie checked all our education resources before leaving in December and has left a shopping list which is being followed up, to ensure that we will be completely ready with everything we need for delivering sessions to our schools when they are able to return to us. Meanwhile Gunnar has spent much time on Venturer, making sure that she is shipshape and in good order in readiness for our first young visitors. We can’t wait to see them back.
Preparations are also underway for the recruitment of a new Education Coordinator. In the expectation that schools are unlikely to return to us until after Easter, we are aiming to appoint in the last week before the Easter holiday, so that our new Coordinator can start work at the beginning of the summer term. Volunteer training will also take place at this time. Although our traditional Education season will be starting a little late this year, it will be so wonderful to be back on the river with our fellow volunteers and our client schools; following the experience of the last year, it will be even more special than ever to everyone involved in our Education days.
Jane Newman, Trustee for Education
Welcome to new Trustees
We are delighted to welcome two new Trustees to the board. Chris and Steven are both local river enthusiasts and bring excellent complementary knowledge and experience to the charity.
 Chris Deavin: Chris has a background in the City and significant experience of leading the commercial growth of financial research and ratings businesses. He led sales teams at S&P Investment Services, Morningstar and TS Lombard and is currently a Director at Defaqto. For many years he was the Chair of the European Independent Research Providers Association (Euro IRP) and has an MBA from Imperial College.
Chris lives in East Twickenham and has lived close to the River Thames for most of his life. He has spent many hours on the river, boating and supporting his children's sailing and rowing. He is passionate about the river, its history and in helping to make it more accessible to those who can learn and benefit from it most, but who do not have the opportunity. He has a Level 2 Boat Licence and is looking forward to getting his hands on some ropes and helping with some of the trips, meeting both volunteers and passengers. He is also looking forward to using his sales and commercial experience to help the charity raise funds for its wonderful work.
Steven Wibberley: Steven spent the first twenty years of his working career as a general manger in the NHS. Twelve years ago, he moved to the charity sector, initially working at Macmillan Cancer Support and then at the British Lung Foundation. For the past three years he has been Chief Executive at Cruse Bereavement Support, the UK’s largest bereavement charity.
Steven moved to Ham in the late 1990s and tries to make the most of living by the river, walking his dog along the tow path, pottering around in his ageing and unreliable cabin cruiser or occasionally paddling a kayak. He is delighted to be appointed as Trustee and hopes to bring his experience from working in other charities to the River Thames Boat Project.
Jon Chapman, Chair
Meet Trustee David Bell
David has been associated with RTBP since its very early years, so a profile of this quiet, measured Trustee (since 2006) is rather overdue.
He was apprenticed as an electrical engineer in the  Royal Navy from the age of 15, serving until he was 32, some of the time as a submariner. He then joined Marconi’s Space and Defence, where one proud accomplishment was the design, machining and testing of tiny electric antennas for aircraft wings in line with MoD specifications. A move to BAE Systems followed (later sold off to SELEX Systems), where his team developed a process for the onsite rapid optimisation and calibration of high end complex test equipment in a mobile laboratory.
One day he went along to the Boat Show at the Docklands Excel Centre, the only time that Thames Venturer attended. Something about the old Dutch barge caught his eye, so he went on board to look around, and Miranda Jaggers nabbed him. An early request for his expertise was made in reaction to the change of legal requirements for a boat’s engine to start from two different power sources, so David devised a much bigger battery box, which was installed during a freezing winter, the team all clad in specially insulated overalls. Another conundrum was how to unchoke the engine – answer: flush out the wrong oil.
As well as consolidating his role as the indispensable fixer who quietly came up with solutions for the boat’s various engineering troubles, David became involved particularly in residential trips, witnessing for himself the huge and immediate benefits to groups such as young carers, or couples where one partner had suffered a stroke. Everything these days has to be qualified by ‘after Covid’, but David would be delighted if this aspect of our work could once again become a regular reality. ‘And it would be great if we could equip the boats with kayaks or canoes to enhance youngsters’ experience.’
Now semi-retired and still involved with marine engineering and boat modification local to his home in Isleworth, he was of course involved with the design discussions for Thames Discoverer, and is very satisfied with its excellent hull shape and ease of manoeuvre, less so the unprotected steering in poor weather. Perhaps surprisingly, he has only ever owned a canoe, although he has frequently driven both our boats, and cherishes memories of magical singsongs, everyone crowded in Venturer’s wheelhouse against the cold and the rain. He has also borrowed other boats for extended trips, crewed for friends and delivered other people’s boats, as well as showing the new owners how to drive them (‘although they don’t always get it!’).
Non-boating interests include swapping cooking meals from time to time with his daughter Rhiannon three minutes away, and walking and theatre with his partner, Sofia, who is currently volunteering away from home at one of the vaccination hubs.
Sarah Herrick, Office volunteer
Peters 'leaving do'
 Thank you to everyone who sent in photos and messages and contributed towards a leaving present for Peter Oldham. There were lots of great memories from his 13 years at RTBP! Pippa put together a fantastic photobook with pics  over the years and messages. Keith Knox did an amazing painting of Thames Venturer for Peter. Donations meant that we could get a very special Goretex cycling jacket for him. There is still some money left in the gift pot and we will let you know what the final part of Peter's gift is.
It was a little chilly onboard Thames Venturer for the socially distanced gift presentation on the 1st February but Peter was very happy and says a big THANK YOU!
View from an Island
I arrived on Brownsea by landing craft with the contents of my flat in a transit van. The he avens opened and rain poured from the sky - was this an omen? Fortunately it was just an unwelcome shower. Gill and I unpacked and started to make ourselves at home...
It felt surreal, the island was closed to visitors, most of the staff  were furloughed and the National Trust was just starting a reset program involving hundreds of redundancies....
Let's fast forward .... the island reopened and hundreds of visitors a day enjoyed the special place that is Brownsea. With the finer weather came some adventurous friends and volunteers keen to see my new home. It was a pleasure to welcome them and share the delights of the island.
 The delights - the birds, the bats, the squirrels, the tranquillity.... It took no time for a hand reared seagull to realise I was a soft touch for food - a daily calling. Gill bought a squirrel feeding box and in no time I felt like a zookeeper with the Gull expecting to be fed at the front door and the squirrels coming to the back door for peanuts... With the changing of the seasons there has been a changing of the guard in terms of the number of birds on the lagoon. It's a wonderful place to be a twitcher !!
 The learning curve continues to be steep but enjoyable. The launches we operate between Sandbanks and the island are helmed from the bow and, at 30ft, are much smaller and lighter than either Discoverer or Venturer. The landing points are exposed so a strong wind and large tide can be testing as we often operate single handed.
The reset program presented me with a new role as a facilities  coordinator / boatman and I am looking forward to the new opportunities this will present to me. It has been a complete culture shock joining such a large national charity but interesting to compare and contrast with the boat project. I'm sure I'll adapt and in no time it will feel like the new normal.
 With light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a vaccine, I look forward to returning to the boat project in person to say thank you for the many happy years spent with you all delivering such a special service.
Peter Oldham, former Operations Manager
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