Pangbourne Water Rats

Pangbourne Water Rats "There is nothing — absolute nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

"Pangbourne Water Rats are in the Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant!"

Pangbourne Water Rats were formed in 2001 to enter that year's Great River Race on the Thames, and they have taken part almost every year since. Their boat is "Messing About" - a Salters Skiff - belonging to Nick and Kat Syfret. Each year 4 people row in the race - drawn from the following pool of rowing talent: Nicholas and Kath

arine Syfret, John and Jennifer South, Matilda Oppenheimer, Neil King, Belinda Drew and Antonia des Forges. We heard about the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant in October 2011 through our contacts with the GRR and John made an online application. Our reason for being included was:
"To celebrate the pleasures found by families up and down the Thames who enjoy messing about on the river"

Our ideas for decoration were:
"In addition to the Pangbourne Water Rats flag, other flags and bunting, with a Wind in the Willows theme"

On December 31st 2011 they heard that they had been selected as one of the 1000 boats to take part in the Pageant. We've set up this page to record our progress in preparing for the big day on 3rd June 2012.

Our lone Water Rat in the race this year. Matilda in Lara near the finish in Richmond. We were on shore watching from th...
18/10/2024

Our lone Water Rat in the race this year. Matilda in Lara near the finish in Richmond. We were on shore watching from the restaurant boat Peggy Jean by Richmond bridge. The wind and tide made it a tough race.

The Water Rats annual excursion to celebrate another successful year on the river. We rowed up to the Leathern Bottle at...
27/09/2023

The Water Rats annual excursion to celebrate another successful year on the river. We rowed up to the Leathern Bottle at Goring for lunch by the river. Yet again we had good weather with plenty of sunshine. And bubbles on the way!

Race results: we were 112 out of 229 boats competing. We’re very pleased to achieve our aim of getting in the top half o...
18/09/2023

Race results: we were 112 out of 229 boats competing. We’re very pleased to achieve our aim of getting in the top half of the field.
Thanks to all our supporters both online and on the day.

We finished in what seems to be a good time. We’ll post results soon. Lots of lager being consumed!
16/09/2023

We finished in what seems to be a good time. We’ll post results soon. Lots of lager being consumed!

16/09/2023

Can you spot Messing About?

At the slipway. Beautiful weather
16/09/2023

At the slipway. Beautiful weather

The boat is at the slipway ready to start tomorrow. It’s looking rather small now.
15/09/2023

The boat is at the slipway ready to start tomorrow. It’s looking rather small now.

We’ve passed our target for raising money for the Halo Trust. Thank you so much everyone. Now it’s up to us!https://www....
15/09/2023

We’ve passed our target for raising money for the Halo Trust. Thank you so much everyone. Now it’s up to us!
https://www.justgiving.com/page/pwrforhalo

Help John South raise money to support The HALO Trust

Boat all prepared and heading off to London. Next stop Millwall Slipway.
15/09/2023

Boat all prepared and heading off to London. Next stop Millwall Slipway.

Getting our boat Messing About ready for our journey into London tomorrow. The adventure begins.
14/09/2023

Getting our boat Messing About ready for our journey into London tomorrow. The adventure begins.

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