by Victoria Bourne
Christmas Dinner at the Waterside Café
A splendid evening was enjoyed by 33 Cruise Club Members. The champagne reception was followed by a delicious dinner, when our competent Commodore of the last two years, John Scott, departed with a merry talk summing up the Club's fun and activities. John welcomed in our Commodore Elect, Clive Evans, and we can look forward to the New Year with Clive at the helm.
Mel sponsored a Raffle in aid of the MacMillan Nurses Trust, and the Photo Competition, professionally judged by Derek, our Marina Manager, has resulted in a wall of lovely pictures at the Café. A fine way to start the Festive Season!
The 2004 Annual Photo Awards
Our judge, the legendary 60's snapper, Derek Jones selected three winners out of the vast numbers of entries.
The winners are: Victoria Bourne, Clive Evans and John Yates.
Nautical Evening at the Waterside Café - November 25
An entertaining evening of nautical knowledge was enjoyed by the contestants. Three teams fought for the first prize of a bottle of champagne, while the runners up received a fishy tin of pilchards!! Special thanks to Veronica, Mark and Angie for organising the evening, and providing such challenging questions!
Teams:
Anthony, Dilys, Anna
Derek, John Scott, Neil O'Dwyer, Melanie, Bob Hill, Tony
Laying Up Supper - October 16
We certainly started the Winter Season as we mean to go on! 27 Cruise Club members and friends enjoyed the excellent Hot Snack supper prepared by Mel and Mark at the Waterside Café, and good chat and fun was shared by all.
Limehouse Cruise - October 9 - 10
A handful of Cruise Club members and friends enjoyed a good cruise downstream to Limehouse, where we were made very welcome. After a relaxing afternoon discovering the area, Per and Elly joined us at the Café Rajistan for an excellent curry. Sunday morning, after a breakfast of champagne, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs at the local Deli/ restaurant, Club Claret cruised back to Brentford, and Lazy II went on to Shepperton after a short stop at Brentford. To add to the fun, at 9.45am Lazy II was boarded by a River Policeman. A young copper stepped aboard from the Police launch, and explained that Police regularly board boats that pass the Palace of Westminster in order to check their credentials. We hope we did not disappoint them!!
Present:
Lazy II
John and Victoria, Peter Dignam and Sheila
Club Claret:
Clive Evans, with different friends joining him on Saturday and Sunday.
Shepperton Cruise and BBQ - September 5
An early start for this fantastic day in the hot sunshine! A flotilla of six boats headed upstream, and we all moored and rafted up at the end of Elkie's garden, where she, Darrin and Joshua welcomed us in. Several people went in for a refreshing swim while Clive, Chef Extraordinaire, sizzled scrummy food on the barbeques, and others chatted over cooling drinks, or played with Josh, who was happy to show off his toys. Elkie had prepared a splendid table of salads, and everyone enjoyed more than enough. We headed back downstream soon after four, arriving back to Brentford at nightfall, tired and contented. A few ventured up to the Cafe for a sundowner.
Present:
Lazy II:
John, Victoria, Anna-Mette
Sea Dog:
John, Barbara, Anthony, Bill, Jeannie, Peter, Vanessa
Club Claret:
Clive, Sue, June, Andrew
Hebe III:
Derek
Carte Blanche:
Per, Elly, Arjay: Robbie, Maureen
Impromptu Upstream Cruise - July 31
John & Victoria set up a last-minute cruise on this sunny morning, and nine Cruise Club Members set off on Lazy II for Teddington, where it was crowded with boats.. Per and Elly, who moor Carte Blanche there on a permanent basis, kindly allowed us to raft up beside them so we could step down, and walk to The Anglers, where we met Steve and Rachel, who had cruised up to Teddington on Pegasus. On the way back, we passed Mick Williams with both his sons on board Serapia. We ended up in the Waterside Café receiving, as ever, a good welcome from Melanie. We had a great time, enjoying good company in the hot sunshine
Present:
John, Victoria, Winston & Lisa, Hans & Anna, John Y, Peter, Mark Blake.
Impromptu Kingston Cruise - July 3
We enjoyed a good cruise towards Kingston on this sunny day, passing Mick Williams on Serapia on his way home. Not everyone locked through at Teddington, but those who did moored up at The Boaters Inn for chat and refreshment. The return trip was eventful, and some stopped at The Anglers with those who hadn't locked through, for more chat and refreshment before returning to Brentford, and the Waterside Café.
Present:
Hebe 3
Skipper: Derek with John Yates Victoria and John Scott
Club Claret
Skipper: Clive with friends Deirdre and Richard
Meanwhile
Skipper: Chris Symonds
Pegasus Skipper:
Steve with Rachel
Chiswick Pier Day - June 27
Veronika and Neil invited Cruise Club Members to this Party on Chiswick Pier, with entertainment, displays, stalls, boat rides on the river, tea, coffee, home-made snacks and draft beer. Veronika, Neil with Tessie, his mother, Victoria, Fiona and Peter with Tracey and Simon, their friends from Cambridge, enjoyed the hog roast and salads before going on a cruise to Chiswick Bridge on a small open motor boat, Chasnee from Chas Newens Chandlers in Putney. On the way, we cruised past Lotus Leaf, carrying Charles with his mother Renée, twins Charlotte and Henry, and their sister Miranda. Charles moored up on the Pier, and the family joined the others for an entertaining time with drinks, jesters and yummy snacks. Robbie and Maureen also turned up on Mango, and moored up on the Pier to enjoy the fun with their friends.
Curry Evening with NOD vs BCC! - June 25
Neil challenged us to join him at the Melam Curry house on the Great West Road, where they serve authentic. Kerala and South Indian cuisine. We enjoyed an amazingly different, well-presented, and delicious dinner! Good food and fun was shared by all.
Sunday Cruise to Teddington - June 20
Rain, hail and thunderstorms did not stop BCC's Teddington cruise on Sunday afternoon. We enjoyed a good cruise upstream as far as Teddington, where confronted with nowhere to moor, we about-turned back to Twickenham, where a heavy shower made us stop and head for shelter in The Barmy Arms! Refreshed with drinks, chat and laughter, we headed back to Brentford, and ended the day with more amusement in The Waterside Café.
Pontoon Party - May 23
Cruise club members with friends, families and neighbours from Brentford Dock Apartments shared a happy afternoon in the sunshine, enjoying a hot Barbeque, salads, plenty of liquid refreshment and fun. We were glad to meet Melanie and Sue, who are working hard to get the ''Waterside Café' ready for the grand opening on May 31st, Bank Holiday Monday. We are all looking forward to giving the new Club great support.
Knots, Whipping & Splicing - May 19
John Scott ran this useful course for a number of Club members, who joined him on the pontoon for an informative and well illustrated talk on the subtleties of Knots, Whipping & Splicing. After a couple of hours sharing skill and effort, everyone was glad to refresh themselves at the Brewery Tap.
Limehouse Cruise - May 15-16
We enjoyed a good cruise in warm sunshine to Limehouse Marina, where we moored up in time to enjoy the rest of the fternoon together: some in the Cruise Club, while others went for a stroll of the area. After an excellent curry at the Cafe Rajistan, we continued the fun at The Grapes, a classical pub on the river, and close to the Marina. Sunday morning, Charles and Bo locked out early to cruise downstream as far as the Barrier, while John and Victoria locked out with them to start their journey up to Shepperton. The others left later in the morning for a sunny cruise back to Brentford
Per Kjellquist Talk about boat trip to Sweden - May 12
Per's presentation about his and Elly's trip to Sweden amazed us all. Very good nautical information accompanied with excellent pictures from the entire trip through Holland and the Kiel canal to the north of the west coast of Sweden, then back to Brentford Dock again. Good information for anyone that are planning to cross the channel. An evening that all attendees really enjoyed. Discussion in the Brewery Tap afterwards.... Read all about Per's and Elly's trip to Sweden and Back through Holland.
Chelsea Cruise - April 17 - 18
The first stretch of the Chelsea cruise was a huge success on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Above picture show our three boats just moored up on Chelsea pier at the end of the first day on the river. Then we all marched up to Chelsea Ram (pub) followed by an excellent curry at the Exotica restaurant.
All boats returned safely in heavy rain on Sunday afternoon.
The London Ring Canal Trip - March 2 - 4
London Ring Outing: Clive Evans led this exciting canal adventure from Brentford, through pleasant countryside (and a few housing estates), to Little Venice, Camden, Regents Park, Islington and Limehouse, followed by a cruise up the Thames back to Brentford. Four boats took part, crewed by a number of BCC members and friends. Friday, we left Brentford and made our way up the Grand Union Canal; lunch at The Fox in Hanwell prepared us for the rigours of the Hanwell Flight of locks. We moored up for the night at Southall, where we enjoyed a good curry for dinner. Saturday morning we had no locks to negotiate, but were glad to stop for refreshment both in Little Venice and Camden, by the Market. That afternoon, Skippers and Crews worked hard to get through 9 manual locks. and only Clive fell in! We continued on the Regents Canal, towing Meanwhile for the last two locks as she had suffered steering failure; we arrived at Limehouse soon after 8pm when it was almost dark, tired and ready for drinks in the Cruise Club ba followed by a merry dinner at the Narrow Street Pub & Restaurant.Some crew stayed in Cruising Association accommodation.
Sunday morning, Meanwhile was patched up for a memorable cruise up a windy, choppy Thames, past landmarks such as Big Ben and The London Eye. We arrived back to Brentford in time for a wind down drink at The Brewery Tap.
Skippers:
Clive Evans Club Claret
Derek Jones Hebe III
Mick Williams Serapia
Chris Symonds Meanwhile
Crews:
Hans Styrnell
Anna Ferguson
John Scott
Victoria Bourne
Tony Williams
David Gillam
Peter Dignam and Catrine
Debbie and Peter
The Boat Race Sunday - March 28
The day continued with a pleasant walk to Chiswick, over the bridge and on to The Ship for refreshment as we watched The 150th Boat Race, amidst great cheering from hordes of onlookers. Cambridge's able win over Oxford was met with both delight and dismay from the crowds! The stroll back home was punctuated by rest-ups at scenic pubs along the river. Great to be there!
Present:
Anna Ferguson, Hans Styrnell, Derek Jones, John Scott, Victoria Bourne
Curry Lunch - March 28
Veronika Weisweiller arranged a Curry Lunch at The Waterman's Arts Centre for a group of Cruise Club members and friends.
Collregs Revision Workshop - March 28
A well-presented, informative and humorous talk on the many aspects of collregs given by Anthony Warren, enthusiastically received by attendees. Apart from sharing a lot of useful information, Anthony embellished us with a few useful ditties, such as: Green to Green, Red to Red, Perfect Safety, GO AHEAD!!
Discussion continued at The Brewery Tap, where Birthday Boy Charles Hudd arrived to add to the fun.
Present:
Ann Brunsdon, Veronika Weisweiller, Neil O'Dwyer, Hans Styrnell, John Yates, John Scott, Victoria Bourne.
Canal Trip to Paddington - By Clive Evans
You can get from Ealing to Paddington in seven minutes on the train – but where is the fun in that? With a licence, a BW key, and some detailed planning you can do it in just over a day.
My trip last weekend took me out of the marina into the Thames on Friday at 11.30 and then immediately back into the Thames lock, where Sam the lockkeeper was waiting. (You can only achieve this when the tide is up, of course, hence the need for some planning.) Next you have to get under Brentford High Street, which can only be done if the tide is not too ‘up’ (more planning).
Spring Launch Party - February 28
A bright band of Club Members and their friends, with one new member, spent a happy evening at The Brewery Tap. Brian and Sandra provided a welcome hot buffet, and we shared news, views and merriment as we enjoyed an evening full of laughter.
Visit to London Boat show - January 13
A good number of members travelled to the Excel Exhibition Centre in London Docklands for an informative fun day out The new venue is vast and excellent, even if it is on the other side of London! We had an exhilarating time viewing dream boats - but then reality set in, so we made a variety of other purchases. We enjoyed chats and discussion over drinks and snacks throughout the day, ending up, exhausted and satisfied, at the Brewery Tap. A good time was enjoyed by all.
Present:
John Scott and Victoria Bourne, Anthony and Maureen Warren, Hans Styrnell and Anna Ferguson, Derek Jones, John Yates, Rob and Maureen Fogden.
New Year's Cruise - January 4th
To begin with, we were all invited to Charles and Beau's flat, where they gave us a warm welcome for champagne and delicious snacks. The weather was kind as 29 happy Club Members, with family and friends, cruised upstream on six boats for a good lunch at the Anglers pub in Teddington; pleasant surroundings with a vibrant atmosphere were enjoyed by merry makers. A happy band locked back into Brentford Marina in time for a wind up drink at the Brewery Tap.
