David Suchet launches Rivertime boat
22 July 2008
The Trustees of Rivertime Boat Trust welcomed David Suchet to Henley to celebrate the official launch of ‘Rivertime’ the specially commissioned boat for use by disabled and disadvantaged people in the Thames Valley. ‘Rivertime’ is now operational from its permanent base at the River & Rowing Museum at Henley, with Senior Skipper Lucy Herbert in charge.
David Suchet said “ Some two years ago I met with Simon Davis at the first Get Afloat event on a very cold day at Hambleden Lock. As we sat shivering he told me that he and his wife Pat had a plan to raise sufficient funds to build and operate a boat for disabled and disadvantaged children and adults on the River Thames between Windsor and Oxford as there was no such boat on this reach.
Naturally, being Chairman of the River Thames Alliance, I was fascinated and delighted and asked Simon to keep me informed. Well, here we all are and the dream has come true. 'Rivertime' is now a reality thanks to the efforts of the Trustees, Paul Wagstaffe, Jonathan Hobbs, together with Simon and Pat Davis.
I know how much all of you here have contributed not only with fundraising but helping in so many other ways. It is impossible to single out any one individual, charitable trust or organisation as so much support has been received from so many people.
However we have here Dick Darkin and Steve Stanley of AlphaCraft who built the boat at the company's yard at St Olaves near Norwich. What a great achievement, you must be very proud to see 'Rivertime' here at the start of her career on the river.
Here is a small 'thank-you' from the Rivertime Boat Trust for all your hard work, which will give so many children so much pleasure. In fact this event brings to a close the development stage of the Rivertime Boat Trust and I know that the Trustees are very grateful to Paul Mainds and all his staff at the River & Rowing Museum not only for providing this lovely venue for us this evening but also for their ongoing involvement in taking all the bookings for the boat.
Now is the moment to drink a toast to 'Rivertime' and to thank Waitrose for supporting the Trust. All that remains to be said is that I wish Lucy Herbert, Rivertime's skipper, and 'Rivertime' many years of happy cruising."
There is a dedicated telephone number for bookings 01491 415 605 and email bookings@rrm.co.uk.