The Royal Photographic Society
South East Region
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All Aboard the Pocahontas!
The day was superb with blue skies, wonderful fluffy white clouds and a wealth of suitable targets for our viewfinders - although some of my film became contrast challenged! The great thing about all cruises is the way you see things from the water instead of the land, and thereby gain a fresh perspective of popular sights such as the Thames Barrier, Greenwich Maritime buildings, the ill-fated Millennium Dome, London bridges, St Paul’s, the London Eye and many other examples of ancient and modern architecture along the banks of the Thames.
No doubt we will organise another Pocahontas Cruise in a year or so, as this has become one of our most popular summer outings. So if you missed it this year, you may not have to wait too long for another chance. Deryck Ford |
On Saturday 13th July thirty
intrepid sailors/photographers, bedecked with marinised cameras,
boarded the Princess Pocahontas at Gravesend for a cruise up
river to the heart of London Town, led by Captain John Potter. 
The
highlight of the day was the annual Thames Lightermens’ Race which we
followed from Greenwich to the Houses of Parliament. Teams of four
men, two at a time, wielded pairs of huge oars, in the fashion of the
Lightermen of
old. On this hot day they struggled to propel their
heavy wooden or steel lighters. Luckily the tide was underneath them.
In the past lighters were used to ferry goods from London Docks to
smaller ships and Warehouses along the Thames. Others were used to
transport London’s sewage seawards. It is
said that there are more
heart attacks during the Lightermens’ Race that in any other sporting
event. Watching the effort involved, it is not hard to see why. 
South East Regional Organiser
Fenton House, 122 Wells Road, Bath BA2 3AH, England
Telephone +44 (0)1225 462841 - Fax +44 (0)1225 448688
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Contact the South East Region Web manager. Page last updated 23 January 2005.