With all ‘out and about’ activities suspended because of the Coronavirus Pandemic, here is a wonderful chance for one lucky RTS member to own a unique wooden table 'The Silver River' featuring the River Thames in silver leaf and for all those who buy tickets to help an important River Thames charity.
About the table
Mike Orme has carved the river from source to sea in this beautiful table of Sheesham wood, illuminated in silver leaf, 1400 mm long, 465 mm wide and 455 mm high.
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Chairman: Hilary Pereira
020 8892 5086
Hon Secretary: Pat Speight
020 8948 0643
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The Upper Tideway branch has a limited social programme of talks, walks and picnics, some together with other local groups.
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We have a presence at various annual events, such as Tidefest, the Great River Race and Richmond Fair. With other local groups, we engage with the Thames Landscape Strategy, supporting and enhancing on our special local Arcadia.
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We have an interest in planning matters, trying to preserve what is best about the river, and are ever watchful for applications, including any new non-mobile houseboats, that appear to encroach on precious river space.
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The river authority for us is the Port of London Authority We responded last year to their proposals for changing the legislation under which they operate, but have yet to hear how they propose to proceed.
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We are a small branch in terms of the length of the river we cover, but hope we punch above our weight, for example in relation to policy matters.
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Current Activities - Branch Update (February 2026)
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This time of year is usually when we prefer to be by rather than on the river, and with so much flow, leisure boating is hazardous anyway. Flooding of the Old Deer Park in Richmond is a reminder of what to expect with climate change and the floodplains doing what they ought to. We know after 2035 the Thames barrier will not be used so frequently to protect our area of the river. There are some new projections for flooding not available at the time of our ‘Richmond under Thames’ meeting a couple of years ago. After our branch AGM in January, we had a presentation and discussion on these flooding predictions and their impact on house prices.
Members at the AGM were updated on various planning matters including the recent re-run inquiry into the unauthorised expansion of the Peggy Jean restaurant from the Jesus College Barge onto its adjacent pontoon by Richmond Bridge. The RTS supports the enforcement action by Richmond Council, but traditional rowers have divided views about how much any change from the current status quo would impact on their ability to access the river. The report of the planning inspector is awaited.
Not all planning matters have gone the way we wanted. The reapplication for rebuilding Brentford Arts Centre (the Albany site) was approved by Hounslow, even though there is now an added story to one of the 5 interlinked blocks of flats making it even more obtrusive from the Kew World Heritage site across the river. The overbearing rebuilding of the ‘boathouse’ by Richmond half tide lock and weir has the go ahead from the planning inspector, eased by the new national planning framework. We seem unable to do anything about an overlarge houseboat by Kew Bridge. Better news is that public access is now being regained to the river bank at Brentford Dock estate, albeit with restricted hours.
Following the financial collapse of linked companies and the non-delivery of the marina at Watermans Park, Hounslow Council and the PLA are looking again at this site. The RTS supports a Heritage Harbour at Brentford of which moorings at Watermans Park could be part. There has been encouraging progress recently in discussions with Hounslow Council.
RTS members so enjoyed a presentation about Venetian fetes at Richmond at the local history society there is plotting to see if we could help bring them back. Looking ahead we note Chiswick Pier as the best place to watch the Boat Race on the 4th April, there’s a talk on the 13th April and a guided stroll in Twickenham on the 28th May
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Please see details of planned events on the Events page.
Hilary Pereira
Branch Chairman
