On a very soggy afternoon, we arrived at Westminster Bridge – where were the campaigners? Oh! About eight stood huddled under umbrellas awaiting the boats. At this point it was mentioned that on the narrow boats making their way upstream it would not be a too comfortable journey either.
We donned our Chiltern high viz and joined the group, steadily this increased as participants from IWA groups, Royal Yachting Association, National Association of Boat Owner, Canal & River Trust volunteers, and local authorities arrived.
At about 2 pm, the boats could be seen approaching under the bridges. A police boat had meanwhile been hovering around the parliament balcony. The campaign cruise obviously needed surveillance.
As ten boats adorned with posters came from beneath the bridge a large cheer went up. Much flag waving followed and on the dot of 10 minutes past 2, the various boat horns sounded. These were accompanied by the deeper growl of the commercial working boats who had joined the flotilla. The boats slowly made their way past the Houses of Parliament and turned to retrace their steps back to their moorings in the West India Docks.
Sue O’Hare one of the organisers of the Westminster Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign collected the high viz tabards and thanked everyone for attending.
Amazingly, the sun was now shining.
