Category Archives: River Thames

Boating on the River Thames through Abingdon

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This picture of a large group of youngsters and instructors from the Kingfisher Canoe Club’s was taken a few days ago. The new club hut and store was opened near Abingdon Lock in 2021 and the club’s future has been secured.

Four men rowing a boat through Abingdon. The town was described as quiet, respectable, clean, and dull by Jerome K Jerome in his book ‘Three Men in a Boat’, published in 1889.

Two barges emerge from Abingdon Lock with a word and a wave. Abingdon Lock is known for its friendly atmosphere, where Richard, Frank, and others are helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable.

Salters Steamers are often seen in Abingdon with chartered boats or regular sailings. They now require groups of 30 or more to have pre-booked to run their regular sailings.

Geese and Swans

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I was watching, from a distance, a pair of Canada Geese with four goslings near a mother swan with five cygnets. They were on the bank while the male swan was on the water some way away.

The geese came closer and closer to the swans and just before reaching the swans, the geese got into the water.

It was at that point that the male swan came towards them looking like a a war galleon from the Spanish Armada, and attacked the first defending adult goose a number of times. The swan did not attack the goslings, and the mother swan did not get involved in the conflict.

The geese and goslings then went back onto land, and after that the male swan ignored them.

The female swan took the cygnets out on the water and brought up water weed which she strew in the way of the cygnets to feed.

After feeding for a few minutes, the swan family then swam away under Abingdon Bridge.

Old Anchor currently closed

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I did hear that the Old Anchor has closed, and can see no adverts for upcoming events. Recently it has been open mostly for music events. Music has been played there for about four years, with concerts, open mic nights, and ad-hoc jamming.

The Old Anchor is on land next to almshouses, and owned by Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon. It is leased and run by Greene King and has an interesting history. See https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/abingdon_buildings/old-anchor. It is an iconic Abingdon building beside the River Thames and should still have a bright future.