Serving a community still scarred by the The Marchioness disaster over 30 years ago, the Thames is a constant thread through the life of the Dean of Southwark and his cathedral's diverse congregation – not least over Christmas and New Year.

Midlands born and bred

“Leicester is my home city. I studied for my first degree there too.

“I first came to London on a school trip – to The Science Museum, or something like that, but we must have gone to the river as well. I remember being so impressed by its size.

“It was so different from the rivers back home.”

Priestly origins

“My mum was a church goer, my dad not so much.

“After the initial surprise, when I eventually told them that I wanted to be a priest, they were both very supportive.

“The realisation that God wanted me to work in the church came to me as a 14-year old choirboy, when I was on my way to evensong.  

“I had three wonderful years training for the priesthood at a monastery in Mirfield, Yorkshire. It’s where the Community of the Resurrection is based.

“Whilst I was there, I also read theology at Leeds University.”

Career path

“My first paid job was actually folding shirts in a factory in Leicester for Marks & Spencer.

“Before I went off to train to be a priest, I also worked as a door-to-door rent collector in Wellingborough.

“My religious career started as a priest near Leeds.

“I have been at Southwark Cathedral for over two decades now, joining the Diocese of Southwark in 1995, as Chaplain to the Bishop.  

“That is a very long time, but it still feels exciting.”

Day to day

“Genuinely, no two days are ever same.

“I love the fact that every day is different.

“I get to meet such a wide variety of people and do some really interesting things – such as answering questions for the Port of London Authority!

“My first degree was in public administration, so the more mundane aspects of my job don’t particularly bother me.  

“I suppose what I don’t like so much is conflict.

“For the most part, we all get on very well, but as in any community or organisation, there are always challenges.

“Over the years, I have acquired many other charitable responsibilities.

“I am also a member of the General Synod, the Church of England’s legislative body, for example.”

Christmas peak

“In the heart of London, we are a very busy cathedral, with at least five services a day,

“In many ways, Christmas is the busiest time.  No surprise there.

“We have so many carol services and concerts.

“Normally we all have a one day off a week.

It’s usually just after Christmas and Easter, that we get to have a longer break.

New year traditions

“Most years, I enjoy New Year’s Eve in the Deanery, looking out across the river with friends over dinner, watching the crowds going backwards and forwards.

“It’s been different during the pandemic, for obvious reasons.

“I do hope that the fireworks come back soon.

“I always think it’s a shame that they don’t utilize the whole river more for the New Year celebrations, as happened at the Millennium.  

“From where I am, it’s hard to see round the bend of the river to Westminster.

Serving a diverse community

“Our congregation very reflects much the population of London.

“We pride ourselves on being inclusive, welcoming people from all backgrounds.

“Especially those who traditionally may not feel accepted by the Church.

“One of only two cathedrals in the world that has a chapel to those living with HIV/AIDS, we have a long history of welcoming the LGBT+ community.

“Essentially, we are a parish church, responsible for the pastoral wellbeing of all who live in on Bankside.

“We are not just involved in the religious aspects of people’s lives.

“We also seek to play our part in supporting the wider community, of which we are part”.  

“For example, we work very closely with the ROBES Winter Night Shelter, which looks after the needs of local homeless people.”

Good over evil

“The terrorist attacks of recent years have had a profound effect on the local community; not all of it negative.

“It is incredible how such events can bring people together.

“The wounds of the terror attack on London Bridge in June 2017 and the atrocity at Fishmongers’ Hall in 2019 are still open.

An employment hub

“We have around 30 staff on our payroll, with a wide variety of skills, including musicians, accountants and educationalists.

“As with most organisations, the pandemic has had a huge effect on our operations.

“As soon as the first lockdown was introduced, we took our services online.

“That has continued, even though we were able to welcome worshippers back to church in the summer of 2020 and then again in time for Christmas last year.

A living heritage

“The cathedral was founded as Priory of St Mary Overie. following the great Fire of Southwark.

“The nave was rebuilt end of the 19th Century.

“For many years, the tower of what is now the Cathedral, was the highest structure on the south bank.

“It is a complex building, which takes a lot of maintaining.

“Nowadays, we are dwarfed by The Shard.

“It sometimes feels like we in danger of being swamped by new developments all around us.”

Future funding

“Receiving no money from the state, we are reliant on our own fund-raising initiatives.

“We have a very generous congregation, have developed our own strong trading function, and also benefit from numerous grants and donations.”

A place of sanctuary

“My favourite part of the cathedral is the Retro Choir.

“It was the first part of the building to be re-built following the Fire in 1212.

“It is very Early Gothic and has a very special feel to it.

“Sadly, I suspect that many Londoners are completely unaware of it.”

The river

“Since the founding of the first convent on the site in c. 606, the church has had a close relationship with both the river and London Bridge.

“The Thames is a reassuring and constant presence for the whole cathedral community.  

“For the past few years, on the second Sunday of January, the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, we have joined with St Magnus the Martyr from the north shore, for a river blessing ceremony.

“It’s an annual highlight for me; an important opportunity for all those who use the river, whether for work or for leisure, to pray for its wellbeing.

Indelible scars

“The Marchioness memorial is sited at the west end of the cathedral.

“It’s a special place, where the family and friends of those who died in the disaster can come and remember their loved ones.

“Each year on the anniversary of the tragedy, the names of those who perished are read out in the cathedral.

“For all those who survived, the memory of what happened that fateful night is an ever-present reality.”

A changing environment

“There is a lot more traffic on the Thames, compared to when I first arrived.

“It is good to see a lot of people using the river as a means of getting around London.

“Obviously, there are an increasing number of party boats.

“They can cause huge disturbance to the lives of those who live alongside the river.

“I know that this is an issue that the PLA and others have to deal with on a regular basis.  

“We look forward to working with the PLA and other partners on the river to make our operations carbon neutral by 2030.

“That will involve making sure that boats on the Thames also use cleaner forms of energy

“It’s very clear to me, river transportation has an important role to play in moving goods and people around the city more sustainably.”

Quick fire

Three words that encapsulate the river for you?

Ever-changing. Dynamic. Beautiful.

Favourite Thames view?

“I love crossing Waterloo Bridge in the evening, when the buildings on either side are illuminated, and the river is looking at its very best.  

“I particularly looking across to our cathedral neighbours on the northern foreshore at St Paul’s.

“Thanks to the Illuminated River project, the Thames is now be-jeweled from dusk, in both directions. Quite simply, it’s spectacular.”

Best Thames-side restaurant or pub?

“It’s hard to choose; I can thoroughly recommend The Swan at The Globe.

"Pizza Express on Bankside is also a fun destination.  

"The Founder’s Arms, close to Blackfriars’ Bridge, is a favourite too.”

Other interests?

“I adore walking around London, all year round.” 

Volunteer projects tackling litter and invasive non-native species (INNS) on the tidal Thames are getting a helping hand from our new Environment Fund.

Applications from five initiatives have secured grants to boost their work:

Dartford & Crayford Creek Restoration Trust

Over the past ten years the trust has transformed Dartford Creek from an abandoned, industrial waterway, into an important green corridor, bringing new life to derelict wharves.

Our grant will help get more volunteers out on to the water, to deal with the legacy of decades of rubbish accumulated in reed beds.

AHOY Litter pickers

The work of Deptford’s AHOY Centre to engage local young people on how they can reduce Thames litter will be boosted by the purchase of new equipment, made possible by our Environment Fund grant.

Litter Pickers aims to highlight the small but impactful individual choices members can make to stem plastic pollution in the river on their doorstep.

“Paddle & Pick”

Our funding will enable the Whale Company and Active360 to reconnect more children with the Thames, London’s biggest open space, through litter-busting, stand-up paddle-boarding (SUP) sessions, combined with a take-away Thames Natural History guide.

Through SUP, this unique project amalgamates wildlife, plastic and immersion in nature

Sheppey Coastbusters

The Isle of Sheppey’s growing population of invasive Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) - and the dangers posed by their impacts to local ecosystems and razor-sharp shells - are the target of this Medway Swale Estuary Partnership project.

Our award will aid partnership’s work to stem their spread, by implementing control measures, approved by Natural England.

ZSL #OneLess

Our funding will allow a collaboration by Zoological Society of London (ZSL) with citizen scientists to investigate the life cycle of plastic litter in London while recruiting a greater diversity of volunteers in local communities.

Their work will replicate methodology successfully implemented in the Ganges and Mississippi river systems, in the iconic River Thames.

Head of Environment, Tanya Ferry, said: “We are really excited to support a number of organisations to tackle the challenges facing the Natural Thames now and for the future, through projects covering education, research and action.”

Construction teams are busy preparing two east London wharves to return to operation in 2022, in a £2.6 million programme of essential improvement works for the Port of London Authority (PLA).

One hundred steel piles, each 22.5 metres long and weighing five tonnes are being driven into the 200-metre-long quayside at the adjoining Plaistow and Royal Primrose wharfs in Newham, East London. The piles will provide a stable platform for a new concrete deck to be installed.

The construction arm of Plaistow Wharf tenant, Keltbray Environmental, is undertaking the site works. Keltbray is due to welcome the first cargo carrying barges to the site early in the New Year.

The PLA acquired three adjacent wharfs, Peruvian, Plaistow and Royal Primrose over the last five years as part of its Investment Plan, in order to bring them back into use for cargo handling. The PLA’s total investment in site acquisition and improvements readying them for operations is some £20 million.

PLA director of planning & environment, James Trimmer, said:

“These site works are the latest, essential stage in getting these wharfs back into use. By the end of next year, Plaistow and Royal Primrose wharves will, like Peruvian, be occupied by tenants and busy handling cargo. Together they form the riverside heart of a cluster of marine/industrial activity in East London, underpinning the low carbon movement of cargoes along the river, keeping lorries off the capital’s congested road network.”

Peruvian Wharf, the first to return to operation, is home to Brett Group’s Capital Concrete operation. It was officially opened in 2019 by London’s deputy mayor for planning, regeneration and skills, Jules Pipe CBE.

The quayside deck slabs for Plaistow and Royal Primrose will be cast on site, using Capital Concrete from Peruvian Wharf. Work readying the site for cargo handling will include re-grading the riverbed alongside the wharf and installing berthing piles ready for ships to come alongside.

Early next year, it will be farewell to the Port of London Authority - but not the river - for our chairman, Christopher Rodrigues CBE. Since 2016, he has seen the PLA change radically - and is confident we are well placed to help the river meet the new challenges it faces.

A river calling

“I was born at Bart’s Hospital, within the sound of Bow Bells, and grew up in Notting Hill - before it became smart!

“My first memory of the river is a day out on my uncle Bob’s Thames cruiser, somewhere near Shepperton in the 1950s.

“I got an ear infection from swimming in the river.

“Since I was child the river has been transformed.

“It’s the beating heart of London, no longer a dull, grey sewer.”

A rower in the making

“At school in Hampstead, I was awful at cricket.

“By chance, I was sent to the river for remedial training and fell in love.

“I have never looked back.

“Nothing clears the mind or the lungs like an outing on the river.

“To this day, just sitting anywhere by the river makes me happy, especially on a sunny day.”

Working life

“My first job was selling dog food for Spillers, based in Royal Victoria Dock - while training, but unfortunately failing, to secure a place in the 1972 Olympic rowing squad.

“It was my fellow Tideway sculler, Bill Barry, who introduced me to the world of advertising and marketing. The rest is history.

“A desire to do good for the river and have fun was what inspired my application to chair the PLA. It’s a great gig.

“Naturally, I would love to stay on longer, but it’s time for someone new to take the helm.”

PLA progress

“The highlight for me has been seeing the team grow over the past six years to become genuine custodians of the tidal Thames, invested in preserving and enhancing all aspects of life on the river – commercial, environmental, cultural and sporting.

“We’ve learned to collaborate much more effectively too.

“I am proud that the organisation these days has a strategic, as well as operational focus, a journey instigated by my much-missed predecessor, Helen Alexander.

“Our investment strategy, for example, has concentrated on re-opening disused wharfs, which will be an all-important catalyst for more freight and more jobs on the river.

“The PLA has a secure financial footing and a strong, diverse workforce in place, with lots of young talent coming up through the ranks.”

Back in top spot

“It would be remiss of me not to mention that London is now, after more than two decades, once again the country’s biggest port by volume.

“That news did make me happy, I must confess. I am a competitive soul.”

Future challenges

“Producing the Thames Vision has been a major achievement.

“The exciting challenge for my successor will be revising the Vision goals, to make sure they are aligned with new circumstances - post Brexit and post the pandemic, not least climate change and the journey to achieving Net Zero.

“The world has changed, and the PLA must change with it.

“We can’t achieve our goals on our own, so working in partnership with all sections of the river community will be increasingly important.

“Inevitably, there will be some trade-offs.

“The population is growing and river use is increasing, but the river isn’t getting any bigger.

“Trade, recreation and the natural Thames are the three pillars on which our future must be built.

“My strong view is that a ‘coalition of the willing’ is required to deliver our shared ambitions for the river.”

A ring side seat

“Actually, I am not going too far away.

“In my new role, chairing the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), I am looking forward to keeping abreast of what is happening on the country’s premier waterway.

“The PLA and the MCA share a common de-carbonisation agenda.

“It’s not going to be easy, but I am a great believer in positive thinking.”

Training matters

“I have been a member of the Company of Waterman & Lightermen since 1999.

“It’s a wonderful group of people, who are all passionate about the river.

“I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Thames Skills Academy and the PLA, the Company is driving forward a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme for all river workers.

“Safety must remain the priority focus for all of us.

“As the river gets busier, the potential dangers increase.

“Whether you have worked on the river for a long time, or are just starting out, the programme will ensure your skills are up to date, improve your employability and, most importantly, stop avoidable accidents on the river.”

A sport for all

“My proudest moment as a rower was my second appearance in the University Boat Race, in 1971, when we beat Oxford – “The Dark Side” – by ten lengths, in what was then the second fastest-ever time.

“It’s been topped only by watching my son triumph in the Princess Elizabeth at Henley1998.

“I am still actively involved in the sport, getting the oars out as often as I can, and I serve as a steward of the Henley Regatta.

“I think that some people’s perception of the sport as elitist is unfair.

“Back in 1971, we lost the final of the Stewards’ Challenge Cup at Henley to a crew from Thames Tradesmen RC.

Important diary date

“Like many others, I am greatly looking forward to the Boat Race returning to the Thames on 3 April 2022.

“The two-year absence has been too long.

“For all the crews, I am sure it will feel like coming home.

“As I can personally testify, nothing beats the feeling of overcoming the challenges of the Championship course, from Putney to Mortlake.

Quick fire

• The river in three words? Pleasure. Camerarderie. Spiritual.
• Top Thames-side watering hole? The balcony of Leander is pretty good.
• Interests, beyond the river? Opera, ballet, cooking and my family.

River charity Thames21 has today released data showing a mound created by wet wipes, which has grown to the size of two tennis courts and over a metre tall in the past six years.

High-resolution sonar and laser scans of the riverbed of the Thames in west London have been collected along the River Thames in Hammersmith as part of work to build London’s new super sewer, which will tackle 95% of sewage overflows that currently pollute the river.

Although the super sewer will help reduce sewage litter into the river, environmental campaigners are today reminding people of the damage wet wipes can do and the importance of keeping them out of the sewage network.

With all-party support, a Ten-Minute Rule Bill, proposed by Fleur Anderson MP (Labour Putney), which would outlaw the use of plastic in wet wipes, is due to have its second reading on 26 November. Fleur Anderson said: “We use 11 billion wet wipes every year in the UK and 90% of them contain plastic. Flushing the odd wet wipe may not seem like a big deal, but there are 300,000 blockages every year in our sewers. Since my 'Ban plastic in Wet Wipes' Ten-Minute Rule Bill had its first reading on Tuesday 2 November, I have been blown away by the amount of coverage and cross-party support the campaign has received.”

Debbie Leach, CEO of Thames21, said: “This data is a stark reminder of the damage wet wipes cause to our natural ecosystems. We are fully supportive of removing plastic from wet wipes and look forward to the day when the river is free from this pollution.”

When wet wipes, currently usually made of plastic, get into the Thames, they bind with natural sediment to create large mounds. Literally changing the contours of the river, this pollution poses a growing threat to the river’s flourishing wildlife.

Tideway regularly carries out surveys of the riverbed and foreshore as part of its work to build London’s new super sewer, due to be completed in 2025.

John Sage, head of corporate responsibility at Tideway, said: “Once complete, the super sewer will capture more than 95% of sewage overflows into the River Thames. While this will help tackle some of the sewage-related litter that ends up in the river, we all have a duty to ensure we are disposing of our rubbish correctly.”

Tideway supports Thames21’s Thames River Watch programme, which monitors plastic pollution in the Thames. In September, Thames21 volunteers logged 27,400 wet wipes at Battersea Bridge in just two days.

Robin Mortimer, chief executive of the Port of London Authority (PLA), said: “Tackling the needless pollution of the river must be a priority for everyone that cares about its future. The Thames Tideway Tunnel will be a major boost to the health of the capital’s waterway, but everyone can play their part right now, by avoiding plastic wet wipes and ensuring that they flush only the three ps – pee, poo and paper.”

Anna Boyles, Thames Water's operations manager, said: "We know many busy families love the convenience of wet wipes, but most are made from plastic and can take centuries to biodegrade. It’s like flushing a plastic bag down the loo.

"Some wipes are marketed as ‘flushable’. All that means is that they will disappear down the u-bend, but they're not gone for good and could end up clogging your pipes or in the river. We’re working to influence manufacturers to properly label their products and, even better, to remove the plastic from the wipes altogether. If you’re using standard wet wipes, please pop them in the bin instead of the toilet.

"We’re also working with the government, Ofwat and the Environment Agency to accelerate work to stop these unacceptable discharges of untreated sewage and sewage litter from happening in the first place."

The romance between one of the Port of London’s first female police officers and a former chief planning officer at Havering Council has been revealed, thanks to a new exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands.

A photo of Evelyn Chadderton (nee Thorn, pictured third left, with five other female recruits to the port constabulary in 1954) has been used to promote London: Port City, which chronicles the port’s history over two centuries.

It was spotted in The Guardian by her son, Tim now living in Germany, who contacted the museum to shed light on his parents’ romance.

Tim explained: “My parents first met at the end of the war in Devon – father, Frank, in the army, and mother in the Wrens.

“Mum declined dad’s first offer of marriage in 1946, when she was 19, because she felt she was too young for married life.

“Nine years later, he spotted the picture of her in her uniform in the press and managed to track her down to Ilford, coincidentally next door to Romford, where he was living.

“Six months later they were wed.”

The couple travelled by train and ferry to Pollensa in Majorca, which inspired the name of their family home.

Evelyn, who was crowned “Miss PLA” at Poplar Baths in 1954, died in 2017, Frank in 1982.

They are survived by their three sons, Tim, Richard and Paul.

Today would have been Evelyn’s 96th birthday.

London: Port City continues at the Museum of London Docklands till 8 May 2022.