it ormend it”, hewrote in August 1895. Although the architectural quality of


the country retreats decreased as nearedOxford, the great loop of the Thames north and south around WythamHill – past Binsey (whose poplars the Victorian poet Gerard ManleyHopkins lamented) and the medieval vista of Port Meadow, with its herds of cattle and flocks of geese – did much to restore our spirits. On the second day, following an


excellent picnic supper at Iffley Lock, we pressed on with new crew members and two fewermiles to row than the day before. Broadly designed to span between camping spots, the itinerary also ensured that distances got shorter as theweekwent on. Welcoming our dedicated rowing


tutor Lucy also dramatically improved the crew’s performance, and by 5pm wewere rowing, together with current Scholars Boris, Jo and Harry, through the golden sunset at Wallingford, finally mooring up in a tiny bay near Cholsey. We were beginnning to appreciate the freedomthat a small boat brings, and the details of the river which would be missed fromthe land. Having learnt how tricky it is to


control a skiff – particularly in narrow


INDEED MUCH OF THE UPPER THAMES


DEVOTION TO KELMSCOTT.


UNDERSTAND MORRIS’S


‘ITWAS EASY TO


HAVE ESCAPED MORRIS’S


APPEARS TO


locks where oars cannot be used and co-ordination with every crew-member vital – it was ironic that the third day, when the crew was reduced to a bare minimum of three, was also thewettest. Despite constant work at the oars or the rudder,we stillmanaged to appreciate the impressivewooded gorge at Goring, and arrived, damp but punctual, at the island where we had kindly been given permission to camp by Shiplake College. Three new crewappeared through the gathering dusk and cooked a verywelcome barbecue.


FEARS FOR ITS DEMISE’


IN the days that followed the Thames became steadily wider and busier. Reaching an estimated top speed of 5mph along the Henley straight (and comparing the “Stella” to the crews practising for the regatta), our progress along the river was very slowand steady. Yet as we passed Cliveden in its ravine, Windsor Castle and Eton, then on to Laleham and under the M25 motorway, it was a pleasure to find that the Thames still forms a green corridor right into the heart of London – thronged with trees and busywith moorhen, coot, grebe, shag, duck and swan. However crowded the riverbank, there were always bays that gave us


Cornerstone, Vol 32, No 3 2011 13


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112