Bob Crouch is a man of the River Thames. He writes, gives talks, builds boat models and invents table games all based on the subject of the Thames and its history.
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Biography
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Bob was honoured to be appointed a Queen's Waterman in 1981 and was elevated to the position of Bargemaster to H.M. The Queen in 1989. |
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Born in London in 1937. Bob's family were victims of the war time bombing raids on the Isle of Dogs. They moved to settle in Greenwich where Bob was educated at local schools. At 17 he was apprenticed to his father as a third generation Thames Waterman. He took up the sport of rowing and successfully competed for the Doggett's Coat and Badge in 1958. After two years of National Service in the Royal Navy Bob returned to work on the Thames as a Waterman and Lighterman, then as a Bridge Pilot and finally built up his own pleasure boat business. |
His involvement with the Watermen's Guild is long standing, becoming the Master in 1987. On his retirement in 2001, Her Majesty awarded him with the M.V.O.
His first novel The Coat gave the opportunity to tell the little known story of the origins of Mr. Doggett's famous race, with latitude to describe the lifestyle of the watermen of the early 18th century.
Talks
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Bob Crouch has lived by and worked on the Thames all his life, and as a consequence, has furrowed an intimate relationship with the great river. From young apprentice Waterman to Bargemaster to H.M. The queen, Bob's unique insight and indepth knowledge of the Thames is available through lectures and talks. |
Bob can tailor his talks to your requirements:
- the 2000 year history of the Thames Watermen (1 hr)
- after dinner/lunch talks on a specific period within that history or a short general overview (10 mins)
- talks to groups, clubs and associations on specific times and dates within the watermen’s history or on the rediscovered sport of traditional, fixed seat rowing. (20/30/40 mins plus time for questions)
For further details, e-mail Bob.