It’s called the Thames Traditional Boat Festival, but boating enthusiasts simply call it ‘The Trad.’ Established in 1978 to preserve the boats of the Thames that were already threatened by the grip of time and neglect, the event has evolved into a great British celebration – one of those with a capital C. Today, the event puts family fun and a passion for beautiful things at its heart. And it’s not just about classic boats, though they remain the main protagonists, but also vintage cars and motorcycles, antiques at large, vintage clothing, militaria, dog competitions, music and more. There really is something for everyone. Not even the little ones risk suffering boredom thanks to various activities and games organised for them.
The beauty of Henley-on-Thames and its excellent geographical location contribute to the success of the event, held annually in the second half of July (the 2025 dates have already been announced: 18-20 July). Despite being on the western outskirts of London, this quiet town of just over 12,000 inhabitants is in fact so green and boasts such fascinating architecture in its civic buildings, churches, and bridges, that visitors may be forgiven for believing themselves to be at the very heart of England and not merely an hour by train from the frenetic pace of the capital.
The event’s revival is the result of an effective partnership between various bodies and associations that share the civilised desire to row in the same direction. The metaphor is apt, given that Henley is the ‘Mecca’ of English rowing and the venue for numerous such competitions, the most famous being the Henley Royal Regatta, dating back to 1839.
The organisers
Among the pillars of ‘Trad’ are the Thames Traditional Boat Society (TTBS), the Thames Vintage Boat Club (TVBC), the River Thames Society (RTS), and the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS), but the list could go on. The latter association,
a point of reference for the owners of the surviving boats that took part in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of British soldiers from the French port of Dunkerque (Dunkirk) in the spring of 1940, played a leading role in the 2024 edition of ‘Trad’ which took place between 19 and 21 July.
ADLS helped bring numerous boats to the festival (among these: Aquabelle, Breda, Dianthus, Fedalma II, Gay Venture, Hilfranor, L’Orage, Lady Lou, Lady of Mann, Margo II, MB 278, Papillon, Tom Tit and Wanda). It also had the pleasure of celebrating three prize awards, including ‘Best in Show,’ to one of the stars of Operation Dynamo, the recently restored Llanthony, a motor yacht owned by Ross Ahlgren. Designed by Charles E. Nicholson (1868-1954) and launched by the Southampton branch of the Camper & Nicholsons shipyard in 1934, Llanthony is a charming 23.6m vessel featuring a steel
hull and teak superstructure. Thanks to the work of the Dennett shipyard in Chertsey, Surrey, Llanthony managed to take the coveted title on her seasonal debut.
The reference to English military history did not end with the participation of the so-called Little Ships mentioned above. On Sunday, July 21, in fact, a WWII Hawker Hurricane fighter took part in the event. Its pilot delighted onlookers with some evolutions in the skies of Henley-on-Thames, unleashing some of the power and noise of the Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 engine with almost 1,200hp powering that historic aircraft which, together with the Spitfire, was a leading protagonist during the Battle of Britain. Thanks to the Hurricane’s appearance, the event can happily be defined as one of water, land and sky.
British style
One of the most captivating aspects of the Trad concerns the attendees’ etiquette and style of dress. Although not explicitly required by the organisers, there is an unwritten rule that boat owners and their guests, as well as many visitors, dress appropriately and in keeping with the spirit of the event. Considering the somewhat decadent sartorial nature of our times, this aspect is far from insignificant, and there is no doubt of its huge contribution to the general atmosphere. On the one hand, it attracts people possessing a certain elegance and demeanor; on the other, it discourages lovers of noise (in the broadest sense of the term!) and vulgarity, since in such a place they would simply feel like a fish out of water.
Also for this reason, one of the most coveted prizes of the three-day gathering and competition is the William Rose Trophy, awarded to the most elegant and respectful boat and crew of etiquette. This year, the prize, symbolically represented by a white rope rolled up on a wooden board, was lifted by Alec Gunn, owner of Islanda.
In addition to the Llanthony mentioned above, another boat built by Camper & Nicholsons was present at the gathering. In this case, it was the 11th and final example of a motor launch christened Gelyce (construction number #383), a specimen built in Gosport in 1930 (at the time when the same shipyard was busy delivering Shamrock V to Sir Thomas Lipton and other state-of-the-art yachts), restored in Windsor by Classic Restoration Services and perfectly at ease during the event.
Among the other craft were numerous rowing boats, runabouts, a few sailing boats, and the inevitable steamboats, including the Victorian Cygnet, built by Thornycroft in Chiswick in 1870. Then there were the Alaska, Sunbeam, Whisper and others: boats that, with their black and pungent smoke and mournful whistles, take us even further back in time. All in all a truly multi-sensory experience.
http://www.tradboatfestival.com
