Riversniffers » General Interest

Photography on the River

venturerphoto — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:31:24 +0000

Regular readers of Riversniffers might recall previous articles about Venturer Photography.

2011 dates have been set for the photographic cruises we arrange on the Thames between Richmond and Molesey. Check out www.venturerphotography.com for more details.

The venue is the Richmond Venturer, a 26 metre Dutch barge converted for trips on the Thames for small groups and offers a unique combination of class-room space and stable platform for photographic work. The barge is owned and operated by the River Thames Boat Project, and is fully equipped for use by people in wheelchairs or with other mobility problems.

We offer a full day training cruise in April and October, or the more relaxed summer evening cruise, the perfect opportunity to take photos and drink a glass of wine as the sun goes down.

All funds earned by Venturer Photography support the charity The River Thames Boat Project.

Richmond welcomes Canon Dr Robert Titley

riversniffers — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:57:43 +0000

On Monday 20th September the Bishop of Kingston conducted a service of induction for Richmond’s new Team Rector, the Reverend Canon Dr Robert Titley.

The service took place at St Mary Magdalene church in the centre of Richmond, in the presence of the Mayor of Richmond, local councillors and a congregation of more than 400.

The bells were rung for half an hour before the service

At 7:30pm, the Bishop began the service of Institution and Induction

Robert trained at Westcott House, Cambridge. He was ordained Deacon in 1983 and priested in 1986. His entire ministry has been in Southwark diocese. While Vicar of All Saints, West Dulwich Robert lead his congregation in a huge restoration project to rebuild their church after it was gutted by fire in 2000.

Canon Dr Robert Titley

Here are some photographs of the service

Speaking of Richmond, Robert said “if ever there were somewhere to show that Christian faith can be at home in the public square, Richmond is such a place: historical, political, commercial, educational, cultural and and recreational currents all converge here – and this on the threshold of a world city. But Richmond is above all a place that people call home, with a distinctive character and a clear centre of gravity…”

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves, and we wish Robert a long and happy stay as the leader of Richmond’s Team Ministry in our home by the river.

P.S. see here for Revd Julian Reindorp’s retirement service last November

Venturer Photography – the first of many

venturerphoto — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:00:07 +0000

To those of you who saw the original post about Venturer Photography day, our apologies for the delay in reporting back. To recap, the idea was to run a days photography training aboard the Richmond Venturer sailing from Kingston to Richmond. For our first course the weather could not have been kinder as the Autumn sunshine helped to make a memorable day. Our two professional photographers : John Frye and Marcus Perkins spent the day teaching and giving practical assistance with the students snapping photos at a hectic pace.

The feedback from the day has been excellent including a great article from the husband of one of the attendees and of course the photographs are stunning.

In addition to providing a great day on the river and great photography training, our goal was also to help provide funding for the charity the River Thames Boat Project and thanks to a fully booked course it was also a financial success. We have a second photography course scheduled for the 1st April (at the moment places are available but please be warned it sold out last time). We are also in the early planning stages of a video day for later in the summer with lots more training options being considered which make use of this amazing boat.

If you are interested in finding out more please visit the website www.venturerphotography.com or take a look at the great work the of the River Thames Boat Project .

Louise & Paul

Ringing in the New Year 2010

riversniffers — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:35:01 +0000

Last year we took some still photos of ringing in the New Year at St Mary Magdalene, Richmond. This year we went one better and made a (six minute) video.

Happy New Year to all our readers

Canon Julian Reindorp retires

riversniffers — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:46:29 +0000

St Mary’s church in the centre of Richmond, Sunday evening 1st November 2009.

The church was full to overflowing for choral evensong, marking the retirement of Canon Julian Reindorp, who has been Rector of Richmond Team ministry since January 1992.

A fanfare started the service.

Long standing Richmond resident Lord (Alan) Watson attended, as did Richmond’s MP, Susan Kramer.

Julian was ordained deacon by the Rt Rev Trevor Huddlestone, Bishop of Stepney at All Saints, Poplar in December 1969.

Over the ensuing years he served as a parish priest in Poplar, Chatham and Milton Keynes before coming to Richmond in 1992.

For all those who have met him, Julian radiates energy, humanity, concern for others, openness and, yes, humility.

One of the most approachable people, and one who never stops working for others.

After the service came some brief speeches and a presentation of retirement gifts.

Lord Watson gave some words of thanks and appreciation for Julian’s work in Richmond.

As did Parish Warden Charles Stiller.

Julian always travels around his parish on a scooter, and one of his presents was a new crash helmet (which he proceeded to try on!)

Julian thanks his congregation.

And so concluded a beautiful ceremony, marking the retirement of a very well loved parish priest.

But he’s not going far – from mid-December Julian will be living in Teddington.

And we think it is certain we have not heard the last from one of the kindest, most public-spirited and hardest-working men that Riversniffers has ever met.

We wish him all the very best in his retirement.

Twickenham Riverside saved?

riversniffers — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:09:29 +0000

Well no it isn’t, actually. But before a contract is signed for the River Centre and enabling housing the people of Twickenham will get the chance to make their wishes known at the ballot box.

At the end of a meeting of the full council on 20th October, LibDem Council Leader Serge Lourie made an announcement that stunned his audience. Because the Council’s chosen developer, Countryside Properties had filed delayed accounts for 2008/9, and those accounts showed a substantial loss for that year, it has been decided that it would be imprudent to proceed with this particular contractor without seeing their accounts for 2009/10. These accounts will not appear until the summer of 2010.

Before that, in May 2010, there is a local election. The Conservative opposition has declared it will not proceed with the Countryside scheme, but will instead consult with local amenity groups to arrive at a largely open-space scheme which will preserve the use of the majority of the Riverside land for the public.

This is yet another chapter in the 30-year saga of this site. But opponents of the Countryside scheme point out that a 9-12 month delay is still preferable to losing public amenity land for 999 years.

The May 2010 local election will have a special relevance for the residents of Twickenham.

Richmond Venturer – photography day

riversniffers — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:27:11 +0000

Our friends at the Richmond Venturer are having a photography day on the Thames on October 15th. The poster below explains all. The river-based viewpoint should give some new perspectives on our local views. If you like the sound of it, there are more details here.

Great River Race 2009

riversniffers — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:02:40 +0000

The 2009 race took place on Saturday, 5th September. Nearly 300 boats took part this year, most raising money for charity. Some teams are very serious, some more lighthearted. Please find below a selection of photographs taken as the boats passed through Richmond on their way to the finish line near Ham House. There’s no text to this post, just the pictures. Click on a photo in the gallery to see it full size.

If you want to know more about the race, the link is here

Thanks to the good folk of the Richmond Venturer for providing a superb photography platform, moored as she was just upstream of Richmond Bridge

A Good Idea

riversniffers — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:57:48 +0000

The poster below is self-explanatory. What a good idea. If you know someone for whom this might be of interest please draw their attention to it.

Good luck to all involved with the Richmond Venturer.

Ringing in the New Year

riversniffers — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:43:53 +0000

Riversniffers witnesssed the ringing in of the New Year at Richmond Parish Church.

The bellringers gathered at the church of St Mary Magdalene (the one right in the centre of Richmond) shortly after 11:30pm. After unlocking the bell tower and sorting out positions etc. ringing started at 11:40pm.

At two minutes to midnight, the bells were stilled. Canon Julian Reindorp, Rector of Richmond, said a short prayer.

The earliest bells date from 1680.

And the earliest commemorative plaque dates from 1741.

From the instructions on the wall, you might think it would take 250 years just to work out how to do it.

But the team say it can be learnt quicker than that…

At 12.02 the ringing carried on, until ten past midnight.

After which all was stowed away.

And a toast was drunk to a great team effort.

The team, from left to right:

Barabara Hicks (ringer), Canon Julian Reindorp, Tony Sweeney (guest), David Neil (ringer), Diana Hamilton-Jones (ringer), Jackie Harrison (ringer), David Shaw (at front – guest), Andrew Howard-Smith (at rear – ringer), Sarah Percival (ringer), Reg Frary (ringer – Reg has rung in the New Year at Richmond Parish Church for every one of the last 54 years!), Ian Flint (guest)

Riversniffers was grateful to have witnessed the ringing-in. It helps to bring our community together, and we are sure it brought cheer to all on the threshold of the New Year.

Well done to the bellringers of Richmond and long may their ancient tradition continue.