Waterborne Queen's Diamond Jubilee at Hoveton

To commemorate the Queen's Accession to the throne, Hoveton is staging a special extended weekend of festivities in the Bure side village. The celebrations will culminate on Monday 4th June, with a parade of boats on the river. 


This historic event will evoke the water pageant staged for the Coronation in 1953, when Mrs Joan Newey (present Hoveton Parish Council Member) was conveyed in an open motor launch from Wroxham Broad to the Riverside Park (formerly Broads Tours), immediately downstream of the railway girder bridge. Joan was dressed in a regal costume as Elizabeth the First, accompanied by Ladies in Waiting, Page Boys and even Yeoman of the Guard. The occasion was heralded with much pomp and magnificence.


The 2012 spectacle will also reflect the large Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, involving some historic East Anglian craft. It is hoped that the Hoveton Water Procession will have a variety of boats, representing the history of the Broads waterways.


To round off the day, a picnic luncheon and barbecue for all the family, will take place at the green oasis of Riverside Park. Heather will join the merry making, by mooring above Wroxham road bridge, during the day. Do come and join in celebrations on the riverside.


The Crew

Gloriana

Heather hosts Artist

The crew greeted Thomas Coulby, for day one of his exhibition on Saturday. We couldn't have asked for better weather. Imagine our delight, knowing that it has been in excess of sixty five years since Heather has been used as an artist studio. 


Thomas displayed his works of art in the cabins, they were of varying sizes and looked splendid against the newly painted panelling. Later, Thomas gave excellent feedback and described the two days as successful.


Chris

Heather at Salhouse

On Saturday 19th May, early evening, Nigel Royall kindly, using Motor Launch ROYALTY towed Heather down river to Salhouse for the Green Boat Show. Behind Heather, was a traditionally built punt named PLOVER, (acting as a temporary tender to Heather.) Plover was built in wood by Nigel Royall in 1990. Punts in either wood or glass reinforced plastic can be built to order by Royall's Boatyard at Hoveton. We arrived on the quay at Salhouse and met Tobi Baker, the friendly country ranger. The boats berthed alongside a large decked pontoon ~ not unlike Heather's early industrial occupation. 

The Green Boat & Tourism Show, offered a broad church of environmentally friendly activities, including a wide range of boats on the water. Heather moored between the exhibiting yachts, launches, pedal boats and canoes. Despite her not being complete, we were delighted to go along to the show and camped on board with the facilities available. To add interest to visitors, we decided to set up a shop in the newly reopened after well. Offered for sale, were a selection of boat items and some local, home made jams and chutneys in a wicker basket. The proceeds go towards the maintenance of Heather. Find out more about our shop later. 

The crew enjoyed quiet rowing sessions around the broad in the Royall's working punt, painted appropriately in duck green! Plover deservedly, caught many admiring glances. In the evening, some of the resident ducks waddled onto the after deck from the shore. Next morning, we headed back to Hoveton at a sedate pace.

The Crew

Flying colours

Heather will be flying the flag for genuine Broads heritage at the Green Boat & Tourism Show on Sunday. Look out for a display of colourful pennant flags of historic Hoveton & Wroxham boatyards.


The triangular flags were especially redrawn from a period document by nautical science student, Matthew Nicholson, for Celebrate Hoveton ~ Picnic in the Park 2011. The community festivals were staged at the Riverside Park, situated above Wroxham Bridge. They were envisaged as cultural, but at the same time fun 'picnics', in the mould of the original Broads Water Frolics. Some of the Celebrate Hoveton ideas have been so successful, that they have been subsequently copied by a local public organisation.


Two new pennants were used for the occasion. One represented the Broads area (above left), depicting a flock of Whooper swans in flight. Celebrate Hoveton (right) incorporates a roundel with a stylised ale hoof (ground ivy) leaf ~ a marsh loving plant and a possible derivation of the village name of Hoveton. The Celebrate Hoveton flag was designed by Matthew Nicholson and echoes the famed, native Broads fleet pennants of the past. 


The houseboat, in a small way, will continue the mission of the Celebrate Hoveton project, by being a mobile exhibition space......


Andrew