On Saturday, 23 April, we celebrated St George’s Day, the patron saint of England. Before we dwell on St George, we took an inventory of the George’s on the Thames Path which can be found in Kempsford, Dorchester, Wallingford, Pangbourne and Eton. Apologies if we missed anyone.
Now to Saint George. No, he’s not English. He comes from Cappadoccia in Turkey. He was a soldier in the Roman Guard under the emperor Diocletian and was martyred for refusing to renounce his Christian faith
And what about the dragon? Well, that’s all a legend which was initially credited to another saint but was transferred to St George in the 11th century. The legend goes that the villagers had to provide a human tribute once a year to the local dragon. This was acceptable until a well-loved princess was chosen, Cue: St George.
So, was Bel the princess? And are our two sister hotels in Reading and Cookham, Bel & the Dragon, named after the legend? Actually no. Bel and the Dragon were both false idols in the Book of Daniel.
Route News
Feedback from our walkers tells us that the path is very dry. The stretch between Sonning and Shiplake, notorious for being muddy, has been well and truly baked.
Eton College has closed public access to Dorney Lake citing “persistent incidents of anti-social behaviour”. There was a gate linking the lake to the Thames Path which was mysteriously closed during Covid but now it seems it will never re-open.
Work has started on the walkway on the left bank of the river at Barnes Bridge. This will eliminate the “inland detour” presently required to cross the railway line.
All dogs must be on a lead in Bushy and Richmond Parks from May 1 to July 31 which is the deer birthing season.
If you want a quiet retreat by the river, an Edwardian houseboat is up for sale on Taggs Island near Hampton Court. It comes with a riverside plot all for a mere £1.8m.
Passport Update
We’ve updated most of the entries on our web page to show directions (where necessary) and opening times for the passport stations. The passport is available at our online shop for £7.50 which includes a certificate. All customers on packages will receive a passport with their packs so no need to purchase.
The Dorchester Festival will be running from April 29 through to May 8. There’s a variety of activities going on. You can find out more here.
Tate Modern has launched an exhibition entitled Surrealism beyond Borders and runs until August 29. It includes works by Magritte and Dali.
The City of London Sinfonia will be performing at Southwark Cathedral on May 12. They will perform Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante as well as Haydn’s ‘Surprise’ Symphony. Tickets available here.
On May 22, there will be a guided walk by tree expert, Paul Wood, entitled The Legacy of Ada Salter in Bermondsey. Salter was appointed mayor of Bermondsey in 1922 and drove a number of important initiatives including housing and sanitation. There is a statue to her and her husband Alfred, an MP, on the Thames Path. The walk is part of the Salter Centenary Celebrations. Click here to register.
Reminders:
The Boomtown Rats will be appearing at the Lechlade Music Festival from May 27-29.
The English Music Festival will be taking place at Dorchester Abbey on the weekend of 27-29 May On the same weekend, More details available here.
The Perch (Binsey, Oxford) is hosting a Beer and Cider Festival on 30 April. This will include shire horses from Hook Norton Brewery.
A series of courses is being offered by North Meadow, Cricklade:
Bumblebee identification 14 May
Moths & Butterfiles 11-12 June
Damesfly Identifcation 25 June
To register, please click here.
Kelmscott Manor, the former home of William Morris, has now re-opened. Opening times are Thursday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm. Last admission is 4pm. Pre-booking is advised.
The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford has a special exhibition dedicated to Pissarro (1830-1903), the father of impressionism. The exhibition opens on February 18 and runs until June 12.
Hospitality News
We reported last week that the Rose Revived at Newbridge will be closed for the last 3 weeks of May due to refurbishment.. This has now been extended to June 12. If you have a booking between these dates and haven’t been notified, then best call them. There are limited alternatives in the area but you might consider the Ferryman at Bablock Hythe and the Harcourt Arms at Stanton Harcourt. There are also shepherds huts available at the Red Lion at Northmoor.
The Leander Club at Henley has built a magnificent deck overlooking the river. There will be an opening party on May 7.
That’s all folks. See you on the trail.
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