As the Thames flows to its estuary it passes through many villages, towns and cities. Along the way there is an amazing system of weirs, locks and canals which the British use extensively with the canalboats, cruisers, sailboats, canoes, rowers and walkers along the old tow paths and many public footways which make it all very accessible. I explored Boulters Lock and Ray Mill island near Maidenhead before driving up the road to Cookham where I saw little sign saying 11 Century church. This resulted in attending the Cookham Church Queens 90th Birthday celebrations with a saxophone ensemble in the church and tea and cake in the parish hall. I was joined for tea by a lovely local parishioner who directed me to the remarkable small gallery of Stanley Spencer. Being ignorant of this wonderful artist I googled to find out that he was one of Britain’s greatest painters of the twentieth century and Cookham was his beloved home town. It was a great exhibition with “Magnolias” and “Southward” being my favourites.
pinkbirdflies 