Master’s blog, Stardate 2014.132

On 11^th May I took part in the Tudor Pull which began with a colourful ceremony at Hampton Court where, after a short speech, I presented the Stella (which I think is a piece of a Myddelton elm water pipe) to the Duty Manager at the Palace who then passed it on the Royal Bargemaster.  The Royal Bargemaster was accompanied by a party of Royal watermen. After another short speech we three, Duty Manager, Bargemaster and I took a drink from a ‘River Cup’ and then we all proceeded down to the Gloriana at the river’s edge.  The Beadle and I were transported from Hampton Court to Richmond on the Queen’s Row Barge Gloriana under the control of the Queen’s Bargemaster.  Bob prentice, Master Watermen and Lightermen was part of the crew.  We had a ‘comfort break’ at Richmond and then the Beadle and I transferred to our cutter, the ‘Water Forget me not’ and were propelled down to the Tower by four young ladies.  Mr Bargemaster and his crew were working the safety boat somewhere alongside us.   There were several Livery Company cutters in our flotilla of ‘small boats’. 

Thank goodness the day was dry.  We started at Hampton Court at 10.00am and arrived at the Tower sometime after 4.00pm.  At the Tower there was quite a scramble to get ashore from the cutters so the Beadle and I missed the handing-over ceremony at the Tower.

I was delighted to meet Richard and Jackie Waller at Hampton Court; they followed us down to Richmond which involved a great deal of waving, but not waving goodbye as it turned out.

My sincere thanks must go to all the people who either assisted me during the day or occasionally came to my rescue.  In particular I must thank our crew of four ladies and their cox who saw us safely down to the Tower of London.

It was an exceptional day.