We began with our traditional coffee and chat at Willow Cottage, joined by Molly Gadenz from Thames 21 who support us with equipment and help on the day. With the river flowing a little fast for comfort we decided to compromise with a reduced river clearing, from 89 Haliburton down river and River Dipping from Cris and Helen's patio. Adam Cade, one of the original river clearers from the 1970s pushed the tender from 89 along the river, collecting rubbish and giving some younger Clearers an unexpected boat trip!
Our Chair, Cris Edgell and Molly showed younger River Dippers some of the creatures in our river and they got up close with observation trays and magnifiers.
At the Tea Party it was great to see plenty of new residents and their children come along. This year included an archive photo display and Martyn and Surya's pop-up Skiffle group: homage to the Ken Collier's Crane River Jazz Band which sowed the seeds of the UK's skiffle and (later) rock n' roll culture.
The evening BBQ was fabulous as ever and several bats obligingly made an appearance for Cris's 'Bats About the Crane' talk, with bat monitors to pick up passing squeaks. Fireworks rounded off our big day, celebrating 40 years of what is believed to be the oldest river Friends group in London.