The Universities of Cambridge and Oxford will once again compete in the Boat Race this Sunday (13 April), in one of the oldest and most famous amateur sporting events in the world.
Caption: A couple of the PLA's boats for the Boat Race
The Boat Race 2025
The Universities of Cambridge and Oxford will once again compete in the Boat Race this Sunday (13 April), in one of the oldest and most famous amateur sporting events in the world.
Taking place on a course that covers over four miles of the tidal Thames in West London, between Putney and Mortlake, the Boat Race attracted over 250,000 spectators last year to watch these famous rivals.
Every year, the PLA begins preparations for the Boat Race as early as November. Colleagues from across the PLA work together to ensure the prestigious race can be held as safely as possible, working closely with the event organisers. This includes supporting all the preliminary activity in the lead up, such as the trials to select the crews and the media fixtures, preparing the racecourse with sinkers, getting the PLA boats ready for their roles, organising the necessary river closures for the practice starts and race itself and communicating these to other river users.
The Women’s Boat Race is first up at 13:21, followed by the Men’s at 14:21.
The Youth Boat Race, which began last year, returned to the river last Saturday (5 April) on a mission to make rowing more accessible, inclusive and empowering for all young people.
Hosted by Fulham Reach Boat Club (FRBC), and supported by The Boat Race Fund, over 100 state school students and volunteers from across London came together to participate in the event, demonstrating growing diversity within the sport of rowing.
Adam Freeman-Pask, CEO of Fulham Reach Boat Club, opened the event with a powerful welcome:
“Today isn’t just about racing—it’s about the opportunity to take part, make friends, build a community, and share the journey of these incredible young athletes taking to the water. This event, inspired by the iconic Boat Race, shows that rowing belongs to everyone. Whether you’re racing, supporting, or volunteering—thank you for being part of this journey.”
The Port of London Authority has donated £10,000 to a charity that supports people experiencing distress near the river, called Bridge Watch.
Founded in 2023, Bridge Watch provides a physical presence on central London’s five main bridges and along the riverside to identify anyone who is struggling with their mental health. The charity’s volunteers are trained to listen with compassion, without judgement, and to help direct people toward support services.
The PLA’s donation will enable Bridge Watch to recruit, train and support an additional 20 volunteers, providing around 500 extra hours of patrolling each year, reaching more people and potentially saving lives.
Programme Lead for Bridge Watch, Paul Maloney, said: “Our amazing volunteers use their unwavering understanding and empathy to listen, build trust and keep people safe. They’re a beacon of hope for many vulnerable people in their darkest moments.”
PLA’s Chief Executive, Robin Mortimer, said:
“We’re proud to support the important work of Bridge Watch and its incredible volunteers who help anyone going through a mental health crisis.
“The work they do is so important, which is why the PLA wants to commit the funding to recruit, train, and support an additional 20 volunteers. This is just one of the ways in which we’re striving to keep people on the river safe.”
The UK’s first ever exhibition dedicated to mudlarking opened at London Museum Docklands last week, with over 350 mudlarked objects on display, from intimate personal items to historical relics.
Blending archaeology with contemporary art and digital experiences, the Secrets of the Thames exhibition offers fresh perspectives on London and all its people – past and present.
As Kate Sumnall, Lead Curator, says “Above all, it will be an exploration of love and desire, faith and loss, migration, community and culture”.
Given the depth of history of the PLA, we are very lucky to have a fascinating archive, which is looked after very carefully at London Museum Docklands by our archivist.
Anyone can arrange a visit to our archive. Most people who visit are researching, for academic studies, family histories or curiosity about the rich history of the tidal Thames.
If you’d like to arrange your own visit, please contact them via the email:
Showcasing the wide range of apprenticeships and careers available along the tidal Thames, Thames Skills Academy's annual free event, Careers on the Thames, will be held aboard the Dixie Queen at the end of this month.
With employers and apprenticeship providers exhibiting, this is a great opportunity to network informally, learn about the different job vacancies and apprenticeships throughout the industry, and talk to people in a variety of roles, including apprentices (past and present).
The Dixie Queen will be moored at Butler’s Wharf, London SE1 2YE, so guests can board and disembark at their convenience.
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