3. Company Weekend

The advantage of moving the Installation event to a Friday was that we could carry on with a series of events over the weekend. Numbers were restricted to 20 as some of the visits could only cope with that number.

Saturday was a very busy day with a 09.10 start to catch the Thames Clipper River Taxi from Greenwich to Tower Bridge, where we met a waiting coach to transport us to New River Head in Islington.

We visited the old headquarters of the Metropolitan Water Board (now luxury apartments) which is the final destination of the 40 mile long New River completed by Sir Hugh Myddleton in 1613 to bring fresh water to a rapidly growing London. Our host was Thames Waters’ CEO, Martin Baggs, who gave us a guided tour of the magnificent Oak Room to which Thames Water still have access for 20 days each year.

A brief coach journey took us on to the Royal Opera House where we enjoyed a wonderful backstage tour. The Opera House employs over 1,000 people including singers, dancers, technicians and front of house staff. One of our members, Yusaf Samuillah, gave us a superb (albeit brief) piano recital in one of the ballet rehearsal studios.

A further coach trip (complete with packed lunch) saw us return to Tower Bridge for a guided tour of the newly installed glass walkways and the very impressive boiler and engine rooms. With excellent timing the bridge opened during our tour, so we were able to see the operation in full swing!

Following a return Thames Clipper River Taxi journey to Greenwich we returned to our hotels to “smarten up” for a very enjoyable and convivial dinner at The North Pole in Greenwich. And so to bed – exhausted!

After brunch on Sunday morning, we all set off home. I have been asked to organize another similar event in the Spring – I will do my best!