Out of danger, I can enjoy the legacy of two frightful wars. Thank you.

Posted on November 8, 2026 by henry tapper

I’m by the river on a Sunday morning when we’ll be remembering people who died for us. This river has flowed through Oxford and the boat you can see beside me is my Lady Lucy who has been to Oxford

Two weeks ago I was in John Radcliffe hospital Oxford -I’d been taken there from Eton’s Broccas in a helicopter and a coma! I went back there by car last Friday and pronounced well enough to return to full duties.

I’m told I  had a haemorrhage following a seizure and am assured I’m now on the right dose of drugs to make a full recovery! I know I have the care of the NHS which keeps me sprightly.

I won’t be driving a car to Oxford today or again but that doesn’t worry me. I am a lucky chap to live where we do and have so many memories of boat trips and those who came with me.

Lady Lucy  cannot be a part of my later years! She’s taken care of me and several thousand boaters!

The comments and the messages have helped me through the two weeks I was deemed to be in danger. E “get-well-soons” worked fine!

I’ve been on sedatives , though they don’t seem to have worked! I’m off them now and though I will have scars,  I am told I will have no further deterioration of my neurological powers!

This Sunday I will try out a new cap which keeps my wounds from getting wet and allows me to go swimming again.

But before I do , I will say “thank you” to make our country such a wonderful place to live in. I want it to be a wonderful country to retire in.

Mind you, with so much to be done, retirement won’t be any time soon!

Unknown's avatar

About henry tapper

Founder of the Pension PlayPen,, partner of Stella, father of Olly . I am the Pension Plowman
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2 Responses to Out of danger, I can enjoy the legacy of two frightful wars. Thank you.

  1. emigreeu's avatar emigreeu says:
    November 8, 2026 at 7.32

    Dear all,

    Regarding the potential acquisition of the “Lady Lucy” for £75,000, I have set down some initial thoughts on how this could be structured as a community-led charitable enterprise and funded via a targeted public campaign.

    1. Legal Structure & Charitable Status
      To qualify for charitable status and access 25% Gift Aid on eligible UK donations, the project should be established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission.

    A CIO provides limited liability protection for trustees without the administrative burden of dual registration at Companies House. To satisfy the public benefit test, the charity’s objects would need to centre on advancement of education (Thames ecology/history or maritime skills), relief of disadvantage (accessible or subsidised trips for youth and elderly groups), or heritage preservation.

    1. Operational Realities & Annual Overheads
      Acquiring the vessel is only the first hurdle; ongoing viability requires meeting annual fixed overheads before launching passenger programmes:
    • Thames Registration / Licencing: £1,200 – £2,500 (Environment Agency or PLA depending on the stretch)
    • Mooring Fees: £4,000 – £9,000 (dependent on location and length)
    • Commercial Marine Insurance & Passenger Liability: £2,500 – £4,500
    • Annual Survey, Maintenance & Slipping: £3,000 – £6,000
    • Contingency Reserve: £2,000
      Estimated annual operating costs sit in the region of £13,000 to £24,000. These would need to be sustained through donations, corporate sponsorships, and modest cost-recovery contributions for private bookings. Additionally, skipper qualifications (such as an MCA Boatmaster or commercially endorsed helm) and Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) compliance are critical prerequisites.
    1. Crowdfunding Architecture
      A campaign target of £85,000 to £90,000 is recommended to cover the £75,000 purchase price, an independent pre-purchase survey, marine legal fees, platform costs, and the initial mooring deposit.
    • Platform & Model: A platform like Crowdfunder UK or Spacehive is preferable to GoFundMe, as they support Gift Aid declarations and allow access to local authority match-funding. Crucially, this should run on an “All or Nothing” model to protect donor funds if the full acquisition total is not reached.
    • Phased Rollout:
      • Phase 1 (Pre-Launch): Complete the independent survey, secure 20–30% in advance commitments from core patrons, and formalise the steering group.
      • Phase 2 (Public Launch): Engage local Thames communities, river clubs, and regional press around preserving the vessel for shared community benefit.
      • Phase 3 (Final Push): Introduce match-funding days and commercial patron appeals.
    • Donor Tiers: Offering structured, non-equity rewards (e.g., permanent brass donor plaques on board, inaugural season tickets, private skippered charters, or corporate patron days) will help capture contributions across all levels.

    Immediate Next Steps:

    1. Commission an independent marine condition survey before committing funds.
    2. Confirm availability of a suitable long-term mooring on the desired stretch of the Thames.
    3. Convene a prospective board of trustees to draft the CIO constitution.

    I welcome your thoughts on this outline and whether you would like to proceed with setting up an exploratory steering meeting.

    Reply
  2. henry tapper's avatar henry tapper says:
    November 8, 2026 at 7.32

    I would be very happy to help in setting this up ; henry.h.tapper@gmail.com or 07785 377768 if you’d like to talk this through with me!

    Reply

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