76. The Tudor Pull, June 11, 2022

 


The Tudor Pull is an annual river Pageant when Her Majesty’s Royal Watermen, with a flotilla of City Livery Company Cutters, deliver the River Stela from Hampton Court to the Tower of London. The Stela is a cross-section of an ancient wooden water pipe, now enclosed in a glass travelling case. For a number of years, Her Majesty’s Row-barge, Gloriana, has been used for the journey, including this year.

 


The Master Water Conservator with Derek Mann, Master Waterman, entrusts the transport of the Stela to the Queen’s Bargemaster in a ceremony, attended by Wardens, Christine Jarvis and Martin Bigg. The ceremony commemorates the use of the River Thames as a liquid highway for centuries.

 


The Gloriana arrived at Richmond Bridge for lunch and then left, escorted by 13 Livery Company Cutters, for the Tower. Among the Cutters was our own, The Water Forget-me-not, with Thames Warden, Christine, and David, on board for the thrill of a lifetime, steered by Merlin, son of our Bargemaster.

 


Arriving at Tower Bridge, the Stela was handed over to Lord Sterling (see above) for safekeeping. The Company’s thanks go to the TTRA, the Watermen’s Company, and Her Majesty’s Bargemaster and Royal Watermen, for making this possible.

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