Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 S600 LEADERBOARD

Christmas rescued from flooded Thames at Henley Sailing Club

by Duncan Mackay 6 Dec 2012 15:05 UTC 1 December 2012

Henley Sailing Club's Commodore Tim Saunders, Rear Commodore Duncan Mackay, Bosun Viv Roberts and Shaun Sheppard braved the floodwaters swirling over the lawns of the club on Saturday to rescue Christmas decorations, a tinsel tree, party poppers and 60 crackers marooned at the club for a week.

Commodore Tim said, "It would be crackers to let a little bit of floodwater spoil the club's annual Christmas Party usually held down by the Thames. So, we relocated the event to Waltham St Lawrence Village Hall but just had to go and try to reach our stranded decorations". "Using a 4x4 to carefully reach Little Willow Lane we donned wellies to navigate across the flooded car park to get to the clubhouse steps and formed a human chain to pass the Christmas goodies to safety. The river is still tanking along in the main channel but we were well away from any risky areas and all wore buoyancy aids just in case of slip ups in the slippery silt", continued Tim.

The Christmas Party for 60 members and guests took place at the well-appointed Waltham St Lawrence village hall and much to the children's delight Santa managed to put in a special appearance to offer gifts to all the young believers. "Normally Santa arrives at the sailing club by coming upriver in the rescue boat but had to divert to an open top sports car instead this year with just enough space in the boot for his sack", said Tim. "Everyone was very pleased that a bit of flooding hadn't put Santa off completely".

For further details see www.henleysailingclub.org.uk. Henley Sailing Club is located off Willow Lane, Wargrave, Berkshire.

Related Articles

National 12s at Henley
Kerfuffle when a dog goes overboard! A fine fleet of nine Twelves took to the river for the Henley open meeting, making the river look pretty busy. In race number one there was a beating start and Meds & Dan Meadowcroft led off the start line. Posted on 20 Sep 2017
Henley Sailing Club AGM
Including the annual trophy presentations Members of Henley Sailing Club gathered on the evening of Saturday 4 February for their annual general meeting, hosted by their sporting colleagues at Henley Golf Club. Posted on 14 Feb 2017
Home Secretary joins in the fun
As Henley SC Push the Boat Out On Saturday 21st May Henley Sailing Club once again opened its doors to the public as part of the Royal Yachting Association's 'Push the Boat Out' promotion of water sports. Posted on 22 May 2016
Henley Sailing Club prepares to reopen
After winter floods After a winter of extreme weather there had been concerns at Henley Sailing Club about the start of the 2014 season being a washout. However, members have kept a close eye on the clubhouse and grounds over the winter. Posted on 26 Feb 2014
Epic Thames Valley Trophy win
By Henley Sailing Club The Thames Valley Inter-match Shield, has resumed this week after a two-year absence from the sailing calendar due to floods and bad weather, and been won by Henley Sailing Club. Posted on 16 May 2013
Henley Macpherson and Hunter Cups
Lasses leading the lads The first two major sailing trophies of the spring at Henley Sailing Club have been won by Tilehurst schoolgirl Emma Cadwallader and young mother of three boys, Amelia Huby-Green from High Wycombe. Posted on 13 May 2013
Henley Sailing Club celebrates
RYA 50% matched funding bid successful The newly elected Commodore of Henley Sailing Club, Peta Bowyer, announced today that the clubs application to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) for 50% matched funding to support better training had been successful. Posted on 21 Feb 2013
Thames flooding decimates racing
At Henley Sailing Club in 2012 Retiring Commodore of Henley Sailing Club, Tim Saunders, delivered his final annual report to members at the clubs AGM held on Saturday at Castle Royal Golf Club. Posted on 29 Jan 2013
Open Day at Henley on 9 June
In this Olympic and Diamond Jubilee year In this great Olympic and Diamond Jubilee year Henley Sailing Clubs Commodore Tim Saunders welcomes everyone to attend the clubs annual open day on the beautiful river Thames at Wargrave on 9 June at 14.00 - 17.00. Posted on 1 Jun 2012
Macpherson Cup series at Henley
Albacore sailing family win trophy Graeme Kerr, from High Wycombe, skippered his aging wooden Albacore dinghy Chorus Girl to sailing success in the first competitive sailing of the new season on the Thames at Henley Sailing Club. Posted on 19 Apr 2012
Savvy Navvy 2024Maritimo 2023 S600 FOOTER