141. Tudor Pull 2017

On St George’s Day (Sunday 23rd April 2017), the Queen’s Rowbarge Gloriana took part in the annual Tudor Pull from Hampton Court to HM Tower of London with the Queen’s Barge Master and a crew of Watermen from the Watermen & Lightermen Company. The event is to transport the “Stela”, a slice of ancient wooden water pipe donated by the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators, in the charge of the Queen’s Barge Master from Hampton Court Palace (where the “Stela” is stored) under oars via the River Thames to the Tower of London where it is presented to the Duty Governor watched over by the Yeoman Warders.

We gathered on the banks of the River Thames at Hampton Court at 09.30am and processed from the Gloriana to the gates of Hampton Court Palace (see photograph). At precisely 10.00am the gates to the Palace opened and Henry Vlll (an actor very realistically attired) appeared accompanied by a drummer. I then read the following to the large assembled crowd (see photograph):

“My Liege,I, as Master of the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators of London, return to this, your Royal Palace of Hampton Court, the Watermen's  Stela, crafted from a piece of ancient conduit of the City of London, that you may once more dispatch it, by water, to your Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of The Tower of London that all may be reminded of the use, from time immemorial, of this liquid highway.”

Henry Vlll accepted the “Stela” and passed it, in its glass case, to the Queen’s Barge Master with the instruction to deliver it to The Tower of London. We then processed back to Gloriana and promptly left our mooring and headed off into London (see photograph).

After approximately one and a half hours we arrived at Richmond where we moored up and had the opportunity to stretch our legs and have a cup of coffee. Mike Williamson (our Thames Warden) and his wife Sandra then boarded our Cutter (the Water Forget me Knot) and were then rowed for the second part of the journey into Central London. Their rowers were an all female crew from Poplar Rowing Club and Johnny Dwan, (our Barge Master) ensured that he safely steered the Cutter into London (see photograph).

The sun shone brightly for the whole of this part of the journey and we received much attention from the river banks and bridges – this gave us plenty of opportunity to practice our Royal wave! (See photograph of Fiona and I on board and enjoying the sunshine.)

Gloriana’s rowers were relentless in their determination to reach the Tower of London in good time, although we did slow down as we came past Chelsea to allow Lord Sterling (who had the original idea to build Gloriana) to join us on board. (See photograph of rowers in full action as we approached Central London).

We docked adjacent to the Tower of London at 15.45pm and after disembarking made or way to the gates of the Tower where we were met by the Duty Governor (in his dramatic plumed hat) and his Yeoman Warders. In a brief ceremony at 16.15pm the Queen’s Barge Master returned the “Stela” to the Governor who accepted it and promised to return it to Hampton Court Palace within one year (see photograph).

And so ended a thoroughly enjoyable day, full of colour, pageantry and sunshine! Thanks to everyone who helped organize the day and who made it such a success.