Posts by: admin

Dear All,

I am very sorry, but the trends in COVID infections, and the general scientific advice indicated that the risks were too great to hold an event close to Christmas. I consulted with Robin our Group Secretary and Vic and we all agreed.

We are made and sent out the decision on the 16th December to minimise any costs to the Group, and also gives  a chance for the word to spread.  I do feel this is a postponement not a cancellation, we will  celebrate our 100 years history. So I am looking for a date in February to  try again. 

Hopefully some of you celebrated the 100th year of the 14th with a breakfast at home, if you have any pictures and we will put them on our website as I did last year,

We are very sorry for all of you looking forward to meeting up with people not seen for such a long time, but I will be in touch with a new date as soon as practical.

As from the beginning of August, we are again taking bookings for evening outings on our boats.

Please use the bookings page (under Centre Calendar) and the password for bookings “Viking14” The booking system is still experimental, so please check you get a response with a Subject “New Booking” and contents similar to this :- Your reservation for: 9 August 2021 6:00 pm – 9 August 2021 9:00 pm is processing now! We will send confirmation by email.

I am also starting to do Scout Permit assessments , though this can only be for full Scout members (on Compass) and not occasional helpers.

Here’s hoping to a good remainder of the boating season.

all the Best

Trevor Hall : Centre Manager

On Tuesday the 22nd, Someone reported one of our boats in trouble on the moorings, Mark Edwards and one of his boys popped over the river in Robin Arundel, and found Hercules (our Home Counties Gig) awash, and seriously straining the mooring chains. The river was running at over 200cumecs … pretty fast. Mark part bailed the boat and patched a leak in the centreboard casing

I went down Wednesday morning before high water, and between us, finished bailing the boat, properly fixed the cover and returned to the moorings.

We were Socially distanced by taking two boats, Robin Arundel and Robin Rescue.

All a bit exciting given the river conditions, but all safe and sound again.

This shows the great spirit of cooperation and help on our bit of the river. – Thanks Mark and team.

all the best

Trevor

P.S. I made a toddler’s day on the river front by sitting in the boat arch still in all my (red) waterproofs and black boating boots. With my new beard, the little boy mistook me for Santa…as he walked by ……I dutifully said “Merry Christmas Ho Ho Ho!” …. Mark played the part of the Christmas elf 😉

Although my last rather depressing post indicated that I could not run the Christmas Breakfast this year, which would have destroyed an almost 90 year continuous run, the Group even met during the second world war, and also while still building the old HQ.

But… my wife had a brilliant idea, everyone could have a 14th style breakfast fry-up at home, photo the results and send them to me. I could the create an on-line collage/gallery to show the Breakfast still took place.

I plan to go down to the HQ and raise the flag on the day (photo will be provided) and you will be glad that my annual report would have been strangely empty this year… so nothing missed there! So please join in and have your own 14th Richmond Christmas Breakfast at home on the Sunday before Christmas. 9:30-10am start and don’t forget your irons.

Send me a picture on BoatingCentre@RichmondScouts.org.uk

And for reference the menu is below (with translation)… though feel free to add your own twist or interpretation.

All the best Trevor

• Leaky  coracle with port light – Grapefruit or melon with red cherry

• Salty thwarts – bacon
• Stranded jellyfish – fried egg
• Torpedoes  – sausages
• Barnacles – mushrooms
• Duck boards – fried bread

• Fenders with grease – roll with butter
• Cods eyes  (covered) – mince pies

• Bilgewater – tea
• Anti-fouling – coffee (with/without..rum) 

Sadly there is no way we can run the Christmas Breakfast reunion this year – first time in almost 90 years 🙁
This would have been the 89th Breakfast, and the beginning of the 14th Richmond Centenary year.
Hopefully we can make up for this in 2021.

I wish all our supporters a Wonderful Christmas and All the best for 2021
Trevor

Dear River Racers & Supporters,

**SAD NEWS**

Firstly, thank you for bearing with us in these difficult times. As you know we had hoped to be able to hold our Water Weekend in September but it is with great sadness that, due to Government Restrictions, we have decided that this will no longer be possible.


Whilst there has been some easing of the current lockdown situation, the safety of the Scouts and Leaders is our priority and we cannot operate safely under the necessary Government Covid 19 guidelines and restrictions that are in place. Mass participation events to include sporting events such as ours are still not permitted, with only groups of six people to be together outside at any time. This may ease further over the coming weeks but a number of our campers may still not be able to participate for health reasons.


I have been in touch with TYM and have provisionally booked for next year 11th, 12th & 13th June please let me know if this fits with your programme.


If it is your wish, we will of course refund your deposits in full or keep them until next year it’s up to you.

Vic Griffiths

At the beginning of May, The Jubilant Crew, bored of being away from the water for so long devised a team challenge, and made over £2000 for the NSPCC charity.

34 is the length in kilometers of the Great River Race which the Jubilant Crew have trained for and raced in every year since the boat was built

You can read more in the Richmond and Twickenham Times article https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/18465671.richmond-rowers-swap-thames-terra-firma-help-nspcc/

This was the Challenge sent out to all

The Crew of The Royal Shallop Jubilant is asking ALL rowers in the UK to join us in a fundraiser for the NSPCC by completing
The “34” Challenge

Individuals, households and virtual crews are invited to complete The “34” Challenge, representing the 34km of the annual Great River Race. Then donate via our JustGiving page- www.justgiving.com/fundraising/a-call-to-oars and post achievements on our dedicated facebook page

• a call to oars – www.facebook.com/groups/acalltooars.

The Centre operations manual update is now done for 2020 (it was done earlier but I had no way to re-publish) it can be found under the “Important Document” link in the header menu

Trevor

Hi all – this is the previous post – from March sent by email repeated
I had the HQ cleaned on the morning of Sat 21st , so all bins empty and surfaces and floor clean for when we need the centre again.
Today I  went out on the river on Robin Arundel helped by my eldest son, and we bailed all the 14th boats , cleaned Fan Maker and put her on the Scout moorings with the cover and hoops back on (one hoop missing and cover may need adjusting later)So all tucked away for the duration…

MarkE (and maybe others interested) :  I also bailed RG’s orange boat and did a quick run around the other local boats. All Ok (although one cutter – not ours- is only bow tied on the trot -I did not get to sort this as ran out of time) Also speaking (or shouting across the pontoon ) to Mark B.. the PLA/Richmond lock keeper have been (verbally) advising river users that if the virus impacts the Richmond Lock employees they -may- longer be able to operate the curtain, so in this case the river will run out as per the Draw Off.  – There has been no official warning from the PLA, and I hope we will get proper alert of any problems.
Will keep everyone informed, and if anyone fancies doing the boat checks (as a couple of hours out of home confinement – and is safe operating Robin A or Robin R, let me know) 
Again:…. please let me know if anyone visiting the HQ , I am  trying to schedule any visits to prevent person-person contact. 
All the best Trevor