Submitted by admin on 10 September 2002
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The Jubilant Trust is delighted and honoured to announce that The Duke of York is to name the new Royal Shallop "Jubilant" at Isleworth on Saturday 14 September. The Shallop, being built at Richmond, is a replica of the eighteenth century barge on display in Somerset House in central London.
Built by Mark Edwards at Richmond upon Thames for the Thames Traditional Rowing Association the "Jubilant" is for training disabled rowers to join able-bodied rowers in events, ceremonies and regattas on the Thames.
An appeal for funds earlier this year has met with stunning success and the charity set up to operate the boat has had offers of support from many people all over London. The main sponsor is Lloyd's Register of Shipping who contributed £30,000 of the initial £ 95,000 needed to get the project started. The London District 1130 of Rotary International also agreed to contribute through its network of 82 clubs throughout the capital and have had contributions from over half of the clubs so far.
The Queen's Bargemaster, Bob Crouch who accompanies Her Majesty whenever she goes out on the River Thames and will be at the helm on her maiden voyage on 14 September said, " The Royal Barge or Shallop, as she is properly called, has eight oars and is 45 feet long. Her hull painted white and with scarlet and gold gunwhales is a true replica of the water limousine of yesteryear.
Her Majesty has seen a model of the boat and asked that it should be available for disadvantaged and disabled rowers to use."
Maldwin Drummond the Chairman of the Thames Traditional Rowing Association said, "We are delighted to have some of the foremost Maritime organisations involved including Lloyd's Register, the Baltic Exchange and the Corporation of Trinity House.
Just as important is the Rotary Club involvement with our project. They are Internationally renowned for charitable activities in the community and the London Rotarians were in at the start of this exciting project for the Thames rowing community. We are very grateful to them for their assistance."
The naming ceremony at Isleworth, accompanied by a pageant involving Alan Coren as King George III, The Duke of York's great-great-great-great-great- grandfather, will be a special occasion for the Thames. An array of craft accompanying the "Jubilant" from the Kew Meridian to Greenwich carrying a decommissioned atomic clock from the National Physical Laboratory at Teddington to the Royal Observatory at Greenwich where it will be put on display.
The pageant accompanying the event will tell the story of "Time" and its importance to sailors for safe Navigation in particular the influential role played by Her Majesty The Queen's forebear George III. To round off the day a Jubilee picnic will be held in Greenwich Park near the Royal Observatory. The Royal Parks have kindly agreed to the Woolwich Rotary Club organising the picnic in Greenwich Park and all are welcome to join in and watch the Pageant and entertainment.