As I walk the towpaths of the Thames mulling over JMB's request for me to write something for the Bluefriars newsletter, Dundas Aqueduct and paddling round 'bad corner' seem a long way away.
I am sure that I am not the only one who chose rowing since it is a sport where one is not required to hit or catch a ball! I was by no means the perfect oarsman, quickly earning the name 'Petal', which, so they say, reflected the status of my physique! Anyway, horticulture aside, I was fortunate to get in to the 1st VIII (1987) and enjoy a great season, topped by rowing the Henley course (well 1500m of it at least!) three times in the Special Race for Schools, memories of which still live with me to this day.
After leaving Monkton I enjoyed a few more years of rowing with the City of Bristol Rowing Club while I was based there working for Rolls-Royce. As fortune would have it, I turned up on the night that they were looking for a spare man for a coxless four. In I jumped and did not look back for the next few years. Rowing in the coxless four was a new experience for me; no Paul Coggins encouraging/nagging at me to balance the boat, sit up and work harder. Instead, there was a new requirement for individual discipline and commitment. I was able to persuade an expert top flight coach to help us in our bid to qualify for Henley. I still remember JMB commenting on our motley crew (a plumber, a builder and 2 engineers) saying; 'It is not very beautiful, but you go quite fast'!! Unfortunately it was not quite fast enough, coming 11th in the qualifiers for Henley - gutted!
Water has continued to be a key thread in my years since leaving Bristol in 1996. 5 years, 10 countries and 2 new languages later I have had the privilege of helping in the challenge to improve water and sanitation supply to rural populations in the developing world. The quotes that follow are taken from the newsletters I have written from far flung corners of the globe...
Nicaragua (July 1996): Some of you will remember Mike Cole and his hovercraft expeditions. With a few months to spare before going off to study for a Master's in Water Engineering I headed off to Nicaragua to help pilot the hovercraft up and down the Rio San Juan in Nicaragua. What a superb experience. I will always remember Mike's enthusiasm and forgiving nature; exemplified as he said, 'I still believe in Young People!!' straight after I crashed the hovercraft into the river bank.
Sierra Leone (April 2001): When I arrived in Sierra Leone it was peaceful and it was time for Action Against Hunger to develop their projects in the northern, rebel controlled, regions of the country. However, the day I arrived in the project location, the rebels decided to attack the UN forces and we found ourselves in the middle of a war zone. After 4 days in hiding we were airlifted to safety by a US mercenary helicopter along with 49 other AAH staff. We all left everything behind; I left my rucksack, but my technical assistant left his house and his home. This was the 3rd time he had done this in 10 years.
Moyale, Semi-Arid Region in Northern Kenya (November 2001): ... the heavens opened and Moyale district rapidly became a mud bath. After the first rain storm (90 minutes of hard-core rain) the local people told me that this was the most rain they had had since El Niņo (Nov 1997). Obviously this rain is much needed, but it will take much more of the same before the vegetation can recover, the herdsmen can build up their animals and the water resources can be replenished.
The Alti-Plano, Bolivia (January 2003): ... it is the people that have impacted me most. The chance to know people and their everyday struggles, to work with them to improve that life, just a little bit, is unforgettable. To see the life- changing impact of installing clean, plentiful running water in these people's houses and celebrate with them as the system is inaugurated is wonderful - I count myself among the very luckiest of people.
Winchester, UK (June 2002): ...on the evening of the 20 of June 2002 Miss Deborah Thompsett agreed to marry Mr James Gibson, thus ending much speculation about two long-term 'singlies'. Thanks to all those of you who have written with congratulations - many of you have said 'and about time too!' but we prefer Great Aunty Joyce's quote:
"It has been a long search, but what a reward!"
Lichinga, Northern Mozambique (September 2003): "Well what a year!! I think if I had known it was going to be this hard I would have thought more than twice whether to come. This year has been very tough and I have sometimes found myself asking Deb, 'is it really worth it?' I have found myself challenged daily, at times to the core of my thinking, as I search for the why's and how's to do my job well and really make a difference to the people with whom and for whom I work. But then, I find myself asking, 'is it not a privilege in itself to have a job where one is forced to ask these questions?' So I guess, maybe it is good that we sometimes don't know what we are letting ourselves in for, else we would never step out into the unknown where we can learn so much. God indeed knows best and promises never to push us too far - I try to remind myself of this anyway.
The Thames, UK (October 2005): ...And now, I find myself walking the towpaths of the Thames working for the Environment Agency with responsibility for managing Flood Risk from Hurley down to Teddington. As you can imagine the flood plain of the Thames has a lot of properties, both private and commercial, that are at a very real risk from flooding. Some of you will remember the floods in 2003 and 2000. Some may even remember the biggest flood in recent history in 1947. In Flood Risk Management we look after the day-to-day management of the Thames, ensuring that any potential causes of flooding are minimised /removed and all the structures (weirs, flood banks...) are in good condition. We are also responsible for investigating and designing future projects that can be implemented to reduce the risk of properties flooding. The Thames flood plain is one of the highest value pieces of land at risk from fluvial (i.e. not tidal) flooding in the UK and thus a huge emphasis is being placed on this area. Quite a different job to the last 5 years but one that still touches the reality of people's lives.
So, why write any of this down and what has it got to do with Bluefriars? Well I guess I hope it is interesting, possibly challenging and maybe someone out there might be inspired. Monkton, and dare I say it rowing, played a big part in setting me up for all of this. I loved rowing. It taught me about:
Perseverance - what sport can teach more about perseverance and dedication towards achieving something that matters to us, especially when the going gets tough?
Teamwork - rowing has to be the ultimate team sport. Getting alongside and working together has been the foundation of all I have been able to achieve overseas.
Faith - I was lucky to have had some great role models for my Christian faith at Monkton, both on and off the river - I have never forgotten the 'rowers' verse; 'I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?' Psalm 121 v1. In the boat, it was to encourage me to keep my head up. Off the water, as I have faced many seemingly insurmountable hills, both physical and metaphorical, the next verse has proved to be true and my strength has come from far above the summits: 'My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth', has proved to be true'.
So, Dundas to the Thames. My next ambition, a bird's eye view of the events of Henley week from the Environment Agency launch. Maybe one day...!!
The 1987 crew got through two rounds at Henley, and reached Senior A status.