Clevedon boat at Queen’s flotilla

Wednesday, May 23, 2012
2:23 PM

Clevedon Pilot Gig boat the Watch and Pray will be rowing at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the Thames

FOLLOWING their recent success in the world championships in the Scilly Isles, the Clevedon Pilot Rowing Gig - Watch and Pray - will be rowing in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the Thames on June 3.

The pageant will be one of the largest public events ever held in London and will be a 1,000 boat tribute to Her Majesty’s 60 year reign. The whole event will be televised worldwide.

All types of boats will take part and the flotilla will pass under 14 bridges and will be viewed from the river banks along the seven mile course from Putney to Tower Bridge. It will take 90 minutes to pass any given point.

It will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river, with rowing boats, working boats and pleasure vessels of all shapes and sizes. The first section of the flotilla will be the rowing boats, including Watch and Pray.

The Queen will be aboard the royal barge which will take the central role in the procession. Heralded by the royal jubilee bells and led by Gloriana, the hand-built, 88-ft royal rowbarge.

Andrew Brown, chairman of Clevedon Pilot Gig Club, said: ‘’We are very proud to have been invited to take part in this glorious pageant and for us to have been one of only six gigs selected from all over the country, is a great honour. We will proudly represent the county and will fly the Somerset flag from our gig.’’

The crew, which has been chosen from all the 100 members of the club, is: Dave Hall (cox), Andrew Brown, Richard James, Emily Tolchard, Steve Burnside, Mark Shopland, Angela Slotte, Martyn Brown and Steve Williams.

Following the event, Watch and Pray will return to Clevedon and will be on display on Clevedon Pier, in all its glory - bedecked in it’s flags and bunting , from June 4 onwards, and will be part of Clevedon’s celebrations of the Queen’s diamond jubilee week.