One of the world’s oldest amateur sporting events, the annual Oxford-Cambridge rowing competition, simply known as ‘The Boat Race’, took place on Saturday 30 March. Not only did Cambridge retain their title as winners of the Women’s Boat race for the 7th year on the run, but Cambridge also beat Oxford in the Men’s Boat Race by 3.5 lengths.
As usual, the PLA had been preparing for months, repainting the stake boats and working with race organisers on the operations, ensuring the safety of the river for the rowers.
Youth Boat Race
The Boat Race Fund, which is run by trustees of the Oxford and Cambridge Rowing Foundation, and Fulham Reach Boat Club (FRBC), worked together to provide a golden opportunity for 32 children from seven local state schools to participate in the inaugural Youth Boat Race, ahead of Saturday’s historic race.
Sir Matthew Pinsent, Gemini Boat Race Umpire and Olympic Gold Medallist, added: “FRBC do a fantastic job bringing more people into the sport, we’re always looking to drive more people into rowing, and the Youth Boat Race is a wonderful initiative bringing a new dynamic and new population to rowing. It's all about camaraderie, teamwork, dedicating yourself, having fun and being with your mates. Yes, there’s racing and competition, and I've won four Olympic gold medals, but when I look back it’s the experiences and the people that stay with you years later.”
Streets ahead
Cross River Partnership (CRP), a non-profit and impartial partnership organisation, has secured almost £1 million in funding from the London Mayor for its Healthy Streets Everyday project.
Tackling over-dependence on private vehicles, and the associated issues of poor air quality, environment, safety, health, and wellbeing, CRP will coordinate the programme, building on the success of the first stage of its Healthy Streets Everyday programme.
Ross Phillips, Sustainable Transport Manager at Cross River Partnership, said: “Cross River Partnership is extremely pleased to be working with so many London partners to create more Healthy Streets. We can look forward to less congested streets, less polluting vehicles, as well as more places for Londoners to play, exercise and socialise outdoors.”
Waste heat
Waste and recycling company, Cory, has announced a partnership with an arranger of innovative low carbon infrastructure projects, Sheen Parkside, to decarbonise heating by moving waste heat along the Thames in thermal batteries.
The Thames Mobile Heat Consortium, which also includes thermal storage technology company Sunamp, will take heat from along the river – initially from Cory’s Riverside ‘energy from waste’ (EfW) plant, located on the banks of the Thames in Belvedere – store it in Sunamp thermal batteries, and transport it, via barge, to major heat consumers, such as district heat networks.
New shortsea service
Dutch multimodal logistics company, Samskip, is launching a new shortsea container service connecting Santander, Tilbury and Rotterdam this month, offering customers a weekly option that remains cost competitive against road-ferry alternatives, while providing greater reliability and substantially lower carbon emissions per tonne mile.
Construction clean-up
Last month, we were alerted on social media about plastic waste materials from a construction site at Convoy’s Wharf, which was ending up on our foreshore. Our Consents and Compliance team quickly investigated, and the site’s contractor and licensee took immediate action to clean up the foreshore. They also put in place measures to prevent it happening again.
RNLI Gravesend
Four crew members from Gravesend RNLI have received commendations after providing crucial roles in saving a life last year, after swiftly reacting to a HM coastguard report of a swimmer in the water around the Dartford Crossing.
RNLI Gravesend Station Manager Ian Smith said, “The reported swimmer was semi-conscious on arrival trying to float and stay above the water, Duty Commander Karla Thresher and lifeboat crew members Ty Millard, Andy Colley and Dave Parry (pictured) demonstrated exceptional urgent casualty care skills once the casualty was brought on board before handing over to South East Coast Ambulance Service at Greenhithe Causeway.”
.png?upscale=true&height=50&upscale=true&name=Threads_(app).png){kind=small}
