A NEW exhibition is set to tell the story of those who live, work, and play on the Thames this summer.
Reading Borough Council has announced that Our River Thames has arrived at the Royal Berkshire Archives, exploring the lives of the people around the River Thames.
Items on display include the handwritten minutes of the first meeting of the Thames Navigation Commission in 1771, lock and bathing hut plans, and staff instructions from the period of the river’s management by the Thames Conservancy.
These items touch on topics such as navigation, flooding, and pollution through the centuries. There are also records from local groups like Cookham Reach Sailing Club and Reading Regatta.
One section of the exhibition focuses on how the Thames has been an inspiration for artists and authors, exploring poetry, photographs, and artwork featured alongside a programme for Kenneth Branagh’s school performance of Toad of Toad Hall.
The exhibition delves into how the river has been a source of employment too, including in the lives of lock keeper Ted Light, who won many awards for his stunning lock gardens during his work in the early 20th Century, and Former Thames Conservancy employee, Alan Watson OBE.
Items from the family of the late Dennis Boreham OBE help tell stories of flooding and fishing on the Thames.
Visitors to the exhibition will be asked to share what the Thames means to them or a favourite memory, and contributions will be added to the display and archived at the conclusion of the exhibition.
Councillor Liz Terry, Reading Council Leader, said: “The River Thames has shaped the lives, livelihoods, and landscapes of our communities for generations.
“This exhibition is a celebration of that enduring connection — a chance to reflect on our shared heritage and the stories that flow through time alongside the river, bringing to life the voices and memories of local people, and invites everyone to contribute their own chapter to the Thames’ remarkable story.”
Our River Thames is showing at The Royal Berkshire Archives, Coley Avenue, Reading, from Tuesday-Thursday, as well as on Fridays, until August 29.
The event is free to attend.
More information is available via: royalberkshirearchives.org.uk
