Notes on the Tidal Thames
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The ‘special event’ marked on this ‘no parking’ sign, was the arrival of a Girl in a spacecraft that churned up the central area of Waterloo Place by The Mall. Not an ordinary girl but a giant space-travelling girl operated by the skilled technicians and puppeteers of the Nantes street theatre company, Royale de Luxe, … Continue reading "The Sultan’s Elephant"
A few of my favourite boats seen once, or several times, along the central London River Thames, snapped and trapped in time. Some of them have changed owners and liveries but most are still serving the river well. AMADEUS was built in 1927, designed for taking her guests on luxury trips on the Dutch canals. … Continue reading "Favourite boats"
As many of you will know, even if you weren’t around at the time, the 50th anniversary of the 1976 prolonged heatwave and drought has been much talked about in the news lately. In London, we have just had the third heatwave of 2026 so here are a few of my photographs of our recent … Continue reading "Summertime"
Boats, birds, and buildings that caught my eye on a Saturday morning walk along Lambeth Reach in June. Boats Gabriel Franks was the first British police officer to die on duty when he was hit by a bullet during the Wapping Coal Riot in October 1798. His name lives on in GABRIEL FRANKS III. She … Continue reading "By the Riverside…"
Looking down from Blackfriars Bridge the artwork on this new Thames-side space seems somewhat distant. However, walking onto the embankment itself your attention will be caught immediately by Nathan Coley’s five dark sculptures, Stages. Glasgow artist Nathan Coley was commissioned by Tideway to create sculptures for the newly formed three-acre public park on the banks … Continue reading "The…
Honoured to have been asked by Liz Gyekye, of Thames21 to lead a leisurely walk, as part of London Rivers Week, from Lambeth Bridge to Vauxhall Bridge, on, as it happened, one of the hottest days of this year so far. Not a great distance obviously but there was so much to see and to … Continue reading "Lambeth walk for London Rivers Week 2026, Thames21"
…at some past pictures, as a distraction from more serious matters, and while I’m working on another project. This really was a brief people-less moment. There are usually queues waiting to have their pictures taken against this world famous backcloth.***************************** As many of you know, I spend a fair amount of time by the Thames … Continue reading "Another Look…"
A new public space close to Blackfriars Bridge, has been created by Tideway as part of their extensive work on London’s ‘Super Sewer’. I followed progress there on and off, somewhat randomly, and took photos as I passed over Blackfriars Bridge, or viewed the site from the opposite side of the river. Co-ordinated work on … Continue reading "The Bazalgette Embankment I: images of work in progress"
There are windless moments during slack tide when the Thames seems lake-still, perfectly mirroring trees and buildings on its surface but as you walk alongside, it’s the disturbance of tidal ebbs and flows that will catch your eye. Notes All pictures were taken along Lambeth Reach, mostly from Victoria Tower Gardens.For tide times of the … Continue reading "With the Flow"
On a sunny March morning, I had the pleasure to meet and talk with Liz Gyekye who has worked for the environmental charity Thames21, for five years. Strongly committed to the aims of the charity, she explains that her mission as Communications Manager is “to raise awareness about the work Thames21 does to connect communities … Continue reading "Liz Gyekye, Communications Manager, Thames21"
