Olympic Surprise For Chiswick Cruise Passengers

Residents of St. Mary's meet rower Greg Searle at Chiswick Pier

Residents and carers from St Mary’s Nursing Home enjoyed two cruises sponsored by the Chiswick Pier Trust last week ( September 27th and 28th)  and got to meet an Olympic rower as an added surprise.

The residents enjoyed a cruise to Richmond and back on the Richmond Venturer, a specially converted Dutch barge with a large upper deck offering stunning views of the Thames and wheelchair access from the main deck to the saloon and bathroom facilities.

(l-r) Elsie Wallace, Anne Anderson, Peter Wright and Eileen Pickard

Jane Butler, the Activities Co-ordinator for St Mary’s said;

"We felt like royalty having the boat to ourselves. Our residents love boat trips, but they have always been a nightmare for us to organise. To be able to have a trip from our local Pier is perfect for us, especially as it has been organised and funded by the Chiswick Pier Trust."

Eileen Pickard, aged 100, said, "It was wonderful, and brought back memories". Eileen is no stranger to travelling on boats herself. At 18 she travelled to Australia, via India on a "banana boat", carrying cargo and a few passengers. During her stop off in India she met Cecil Pickard (known as Pick), who proposed when he came to England on leave and took her back on the RMS Strathallan. Eileen later returned to England by boat with her two sons to dock at Liverpool on VE day when the city was celebrating the end of hostilities in Europe.

Greg Searle with Elsie Wallace and Anne Anderson holding his Olympic medal

Chiswick Pier was also the venue for the naming ceremony of the RNLI’s impressive new boat on Friday. Olympic rower, Greg Searle was there to do the honours, but took time out from being interviewed on live TV to chat to the Trust’s passengers and pose with his medal.

October 3, 2012