New Exhibition Tells the Story of Local People and the River Thames

The exhibition, which is free to attend, includes records from the earliest settlers to interviews with current users of the river.

Items on display include the handwritten minutes of the first meeting of the Thames Navigation Commission in 1771. There are lock and bathing hut plans, and staff instructions from the period of the river’s management by the Thames Conservancy. These items touch on topics such as navigation, flooding, and pollution through the centuries. There are also records from local groups like Cookham Reach Sailing Club and Reading Regatta.

One section of the exhibition focuses on how the Thames has been an inspiration for artists and authors. Poetry, photographs, and artwork are featured alongside a programme for Kenneth Branagh’s school performance of Toad of Toad Hall.

The river also features as a source of local employment. Ted Light, lock keeper at Sonning from 1912 to 1946, won many awards for his stunning lock gardens and family photographs show him and his family hard at work. Former Thames Conservancy employee, Alan Watson OBE, has shared his memories and donated various items for display. Items from the family of the late Dennis Boreham OBE help tell stories of flooding and fishing on the Thames.

Visitors to the exhibition will be asked to share what the Thames means to them or a favourite memory. These will be added to the display and archived at the conclusion of the exhibition.

Councillor Liz Terry, Reading Council Leader, said: “The River Thames has shaped the lives, livelihoods, and landscapes of our communities for generations.

“This exhibition is a celebration of that enduring connection — a chance to reflect on our shared heritage and the stories that flow through time alongside the river, bringing to life the voices and memories of local people, and invites everyone to contribute their own chapter to the Thames' remarkable story."