These photographs form part of the River Thames Image Collection and depict Henley-on-Thames, the Henley Royal Regatta and Sonning.
There are photographs of a wealth of traditional and modern pleasure boats operating on the Thames around Henley - motor boats, traditional wooden motor cruisers, classic mahogany slipper stern launches, rowing boats and sculls, narrow boats, saloon launches, a steam launch, an amphibious car (Amphicar) and miscellaneous GRP boats.
The Henley Royal Regatta, held for five days each year at the beginning of July, is the foremost amateur rowing regatta in the world. An international collection of rowers compete on the roughly one and a quarter mile long race course between Temple Island and Poplar Point - just below Henley Bridge in Henley itself. Competition amongst the visiting athletes is keen and morning rowing and sculling practice on the Thames before racing begins means the river is busy from early in the day. Hundreds of pleasure craft, loaded with merry-makers, also converge on Henley to cruise up and down the Thames and celebrate throughout the day and into the night. At the same time, thousands of men in striped and colourful blazers and fashionably-dressed women wearing large, exotic hats pour into town from all directions to populate the river banks and meadows, watch the races, picnic extravagently, drink champagne and celebrate in The Angel pub beside Henley Bridge (and every other pub in town!). On Regatta Saturday evening, boaters and land-based revellers can enjoy a spectacular fireworks show.
There are a range of Regatta images here, including photographs of rowers, cox, coaches and supporters consulting, preparing oars and maneuvering boats around the Boat Tent Area and boat pontoons. There are pictures of rowers practising on the Thames and oblique views of crew rowing from Henley Bridge. Further photographs show smartly dressed visitors to the event watching the races, walking alongside the river, passing before the 'Henley-on-Thames' welcoming sign on the bridge, and enjoying their elaborate picnics - as formal an affair as picnics are ever likely to achieve! There are a couple of images of five James Bonds aboard a motor boat toasting the riverside crowds with champagne, and a selection of images of classic wooden boats parading before Regatta visitors lining Henley Bridge.
There are also photographs of Henley at night: exploding fireworks; boat movements marked out by light trails; and people partying on the riverside terrace of The Angel pub.
Also recorded here are the Henley Brewery and Temple Island, and a couple of shots of much quieter Sonning upstream.
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All photographs and the jimbatty.com web site © Jim Batty 2004-2007
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