Can't Resist Blogging The Thames Pageant - Didn't London do Well!!

Battersea Bridge with Oar Powered "Gloriana" Royal Barge

I don't usually blog about events but when one occurs that will not happen again in two generations' lifetimes at least, it merits a line of two.   When you live 300 yards from the Thames it would have been silly not to go down to the Embankment to take in the atmosphere and the sight of some 1000 craft from kayaks to the Queens Barge and the wonderful "Gloriana" oared barge.  I took a step-ladder and parked it next to a lamp-post (the wind was very gusty).  It was a great vantage point, if a little breezy.  There was a fantastic spirit with the crowds along the river despite the appalling weather.   All the bridges river-side buildings and banks of the river the whole length of the Pageant were thick with people as you can see from the shot just of Battersea Bridge (which was where the Pageant officially started).   They came despite it being windy, cold and grey at first eventually getting very wet later.  This was when I retreated to the TV and a warming cup of tea up the road at home.

Considering the weather the crowds and participants really appeared to enjoy themselves as did the pageant crews.  I escially take my hat off to the rowers and paddlers.   Its a long way by river from the assembly point on the Hammersmith Reach down to the Pool of London beyond Tower Bridge!  I also tip my hat to the two cental figures who at 86 and nearly 91 stood in very cold and windy conditions for over 4 hours without taking a seat!  If I get to be that age and can last 4+ hours standing up in the cold and wind I shall be happily surprised!!   Appart from the BBC's inept and inappropriate coverage, the day was a huge success - all credit to Lord Salisbury and his helpers who organised the event.  Having missed several key moment  of the day, at least the Beeb managed to show the London Philharmonic's musical salute from their barge as it stood off from the Queen's barge at the end of the pageant.  Whilst the orchestra was protected by a see-through tent the choir from the London School of Music were not!  Standing in the open above the orchestra, soaked to the skin with hair dripping wet they belted out the patriotic songs and National Anthem as if in the Albert Hall on the last night of the Proms - great voices and they did it really smiling!!! Gave me a lump in me throat so it did! 

What a lot of people have been saying is that if London can organise and put on a show like the Jubilee Week-end which went so well despite the weather (apart from BBC coverage) we can hope and expect that the organisation of the Olympics will go as well - and hopefully the weather will perk up too!