June  1997

Shepperton Raft Race

Each year the raft race is run on the same day as the Village Fair. The competing craft are launched at the Nauticalia Ferry point by Shepperton Lock; the crews have to paddle down the old river route to Manor Park, where the fair takes place.

Below: An account from one of the competitors - George James Software located at Shepperton Marina.

'Absolute Junk' was constructed in less than 6 days from used and secondhand materials.  Floatation was achieved by the use of eighteen 25 litre drums formerly used to support a pontoon in Littleton Lake.  The frame was constructed from the remains of  three built-in wardrobes (Laurel's, Jenny's and Tamsin's) that had recently been decommissioned from houses in Wood Road, Sheep Walk and a house in Weybridge.

Sea trials took place on the Canoeing Lagoon at the back of Shepperton Marina, where a very pleasant Wednesday evening was spent floating about marvelling at how the raft was managing to stay afloat!

On the day, by some kind of administrative error (?), we were entered into the Open Section along with two other rafts.  Our crew comprised of Mike, Stephen, Martin and George.  None of us are as young as we used to be and did not fancy our chances of even finishing the race...

We came 3rd in our class (out of three!), but we did win a small prize for raising over £300 in aid of St Peter's Hospital Special Care Baby Unit.

Regards
George James