“Believe me, my young friend,” said Ratty to Mole,
“There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much
worth doing, as simply messing about in boats”
5.
SWAN UPPERS
IN MARSH LOCK
The two livery companies, The
Vintners and The Dyers, together
with the Crown, maintain the
tradition of Swan Upping on the river
Thames. In the third week of July
every year the Swan Uppers, headed
by the Swan Marker, travel the 79
miles from Sunbury to Abingdon in
six traditional skiffs. Upon locating a
family of swans the Uppers converge
on the brood and take them ashore
for examination and marking. The
companies then mark the birds with
their own rings. The swans belonging
to the Crown are left unmarked.
50.
WHEN THE QUEEN
CAME TO HENLEY
In July 2012, as part of the Diamond
Jubilee celebrations, Her Majesty the
Queen visited Henley. She arrived at
the Henley Management College by
river, aboard the steam launch
‘Alaska’. Altogether about 30 boats
of every description proceeded in
convoy past the Royal visitors. Even
Ratty and Mole made an appearance
in their little wooden dinghy.
