Boating firms team up for royal regatta week

TWO independent boating companies are teaming up for charity during Henley Royal Regatta next week.

The experience, which will take guests along the regatta course next Tuesday and Sunday, raised £10,000 for the charity after being auctioned at a fundraising dinner. Guests will be picked up and taken along the course past the start at Temple Island and back down the river and through Henley Bridge.

My Name’5 Doddie was set up by former Scottish rugby union player Doddie Weir, who died in 2022 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2016.

Mr Hobbs, whose father Tony, 93, served as the captain and president of Henley Rugby Club, said the charity was one that resonated with him. He said: “Rugby is a big part of my life and the rugby community locally is very important to me. Doddie Weir was an incredible man and player and to be able to support fundraising for his charity is a no-brainer really.”

Mr Sneddon said: “Hobbs run all the taxis during the regatta and so it’s just a bit of a joint venture to support the charity. Jonathan and I have been friends for many, many years so it’s nice helping each other out when we can and especially for a great cause.”

The royal regatta runs from Tuesday to Sunday and has attracted a record 589 home entries, with a total of 768 boats competing, 179 from overseas.

More than 15 Olympic and Paralympic gold medallists are expected to compete, and the Bridge Challenge Plate will make its debut as its first women’s intermediate event.

A traffic order will be in place from 9am to 11pm from Tuesday to Sunday where vehicles will be unable to turn left into Thames Side from Henley Bridge for the duration of the event or wait in Deanfield Avenue, Paradise Road or Fair Mile.

Loading or unloading will be prohibited in Greys Road and there will be no waiting allowed in Thames Side between 9am and 9pm. The Henley to Twyford branch line will see changes. After 9.29am on Monday to Friday and on Sunday after 8.29am will not be stopping at Shiplake southbound.

Next Saturday, trains will not stop at Wargrave all day. A replacement bus will be provided from Wargrave to Twyford.

Passengers travelling to Twyford from Shiplake on Saturday should be aware that only an hourly service will be in operation.

Great Western Railway said it would be “doubling” its capacity on trains to make the journey from Twyford to Henley smoother but warned passengers to still be prepared for its lines to be busy.

Only Hackney carriages that are licensed by South Oxfordshire District Council can legally ply for hire in Henley during the regatta. Thames Valley Police said it will be providing both a visible and non-visible presence in the town, during the run-up and throughout the regatta.

A spokesman said: “The neighbourhood policing team will be on hand to provide support to the local community as normal.

“We expect to see a large number of visitors to the town, which will increase traffic and congestion, so we ask motorists to please be patient and follow the local authority’s traffic advice.”

The Met Office is predicting dry and warm weather for the start of next week with the possibility of a thunderstorm. Temperatures are expected to be around 30C before turning cooler by Wednesday.

To donate, visit: https://myname5doddie.enthuse.com/henley#!/