Lady Lucy moored in the Hurley Mill Pond
A step back in time – does anyone remember the Eagle Star and Zurich parties?
From late June to early July British Rowing ,the social elite and ordinary folk who love the river Thames congregate at Henley for the greatest rowing regatta in the world.
Unlike Wimbledon, Royal Ascot or the World Cup , this extravaganza can be enjoyed by anyone able to take to water aboard a navigable craft.
Lady Lucy is my craft, built in 1946 by William Osbourne of Littlehampton she made her way to the Upper Thames in 1951 and has been moored in the Hurley Mill Pond for most of the last 60 years. In 1995 I took on the job of renovating her and for two years she was rebuilt by Peter Freebody. She had a new hull in Mahogany in double diagonal and she returned to the water in 2005 to win the Osland trophy for Classic Boat Restoration, the most prestigious award available to a wooden boat.
Over the past twenty years, many people have enjoyed cruising between the Tideway and Oxford on Lady Lucy including our good friend Rodney Bewes, likely lad and world heritage site.
Rodney Bewes at Wargrave
Rodney was President of the Booms at Henley-another self appointed title. We used to join him as he skiffed up and down the course indulging in the racing and the fine wines and food available from those moored alongside the booms.
Our day out began after assembling in Peter Freebody’s car-park and boarding Lady Lucy. We made our way through Hurley and Hambledon locks to the top of the course where we were able to view race starts before making our way down and up the course for a fabulous afternoon.
We would return to Freebody’s early in the evening.
Lady Lucy is fully equipped with a galley, its own wine store and ample space for 20 people.
Lady Lucy on the water
Getting to Lady Lucy was easy, just find the A404 that links the M4 and M40 and runs past Maidenhead, take the Henley turn off, proceed down a steep hill and turn right into Hurley village. Fork right after passing Ye Olde Bell and follow the little lane till you can no further, you can now park in Peter Freebody’s boatyard. You may be familiar with all this if you watch Midsomer Murders, it is a regular on murderous episodes,
We aimed to assemble each day at 9.30am to be on our way by 10am.
Lady Lucy was sailing on Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sundsy. If you’d have liked to come , you just had to contact me on 07785 377768, we might just have had a space!