The Weekend Millionaires - An Oral History of the Thames Lightermen

The profession has employed generations of Londoners with the lightermen carrying cargo and the watermen carrying passengers. For hundreds of years generations of families and communities have worked on the river with a rich history of apprenticeships, work and family life and culture developing around it. Whilst the trade for watermen dwindled with the construction of bridges, the lightermen continued to grow with London's trade up until the 1960s when containerisation and then the closure of London's dockyards led to a decline in the trade. Today far fewer people work on the Thames but for those who do, or who have retired in the past 30-40 years, there remain vivid memories and important stories to tell. This project aims to record and share some of these.

[@stevewright8204]

Great film,I was apprenticed in 1970 as a waterman,got my apprentices licence at 17 in 1972 & my full licence in 1976 & my freedom of the company of waterman & lightermen. I have had seven of my own apprentices & all have done well too. I loved every minute of my career of 50 years.i retired in 2020 & now live in Sandwich & Exuma island Bahamas for half a year. I was the first & only Waterman in my family , dad was a master mariner. I love watching all these films about the Thames,very happy memories

[@nomdeplume798]

Hearing these voices reminds me of my childhood, because although I was born and raised in Manchester, my Dad's home town my Mum was born in Bromley by Bow in 1934. In 1938 she and her parents had to move in with her Grandmother in Silvertown. A year later she was evacuated to the West Country and never went back as her Nan's house was bombed out. Her Dad was born in Plaistow along with his sister, but her Mum was born in 1910 in Woolwich, as were her seven siblings. As a kid in the '60s I used to visit and was introduced to the family, of whom there were a hell of a lot. Although some moved to Romford or Rochester, most didn't move far, staying in places like Thamesmead, Greenwich, East Ham and Leyton. So these voices brought a tear to my eye as anyone of them could have been Great Uncle Johnny or Frank.

[@Tori_Celeste1]

Fabulous and great to watch! My grandfather Thomas Puplett was a Lighterman and Waterman, the last of over 400 years of his family working on the Thames.

[@pugwash1705]

My family had a lighterage firm on the Thames, my Grandfather set up W E White & Sons (Towage) Ltd in the 40's after he moved on from sailing barges to steam tugs and latterly diesel tugs. They operated about 30 tugs and 300 - 400 barges until everything fell apart, as shown in this brilliant film, in the 70's. Knocker White, a large lighterage tug, built in 1925 is still afloat and currently moored at Trinity Buoy Wharf, awaiting restoration. Unfortunately I never got to work on the river myself as at the time I left school in 1971 it was too late. I did spend many days and weeks aboard various of our tugs during school holidays from the age of 7 and absolutely loved it. Thanks very much to everyone involved in this superb film, and more helping to relive so many memories.

[@peternelson9259]

I found the wordpress site (thameshighway) where almost all the WE White tugs are shown. They all look fantastic! Beautiful boats. Great history.

[@jacquelinearcher1158]

What an excellent film...I’m family tree is full of lightermen and watermen ... an end of an era... this is an amazing living history record.

[@alsonberg]

Excellent film. Strong, proud, hard working men, looking out for each other. These men would turn in their graves if they knew what has happened to their great city.

[@tonyblake642]

Knew nothing about this, I concur London is ruined. I am 55 and long for the days before I was born.

[@hughtierneytierney3585]

It is, in my opinion, neo-liberalism that has devastated London, this country and many other countries besides.

[@avancalledrupert5130]

​@@tonyblake642 I'm 40. Feel like I seen the last glimpses of a normal world as a kid. People owning houses with a pub and a shop on each corner. This dystopian hell we live in now is unbearable.

[@simonwindow1441]

My dad is featured in the first minute of this film. So many stories and anecdotes that resonate with our family history. Bloody good film for anyone looking to understand what lightermen did.

[@salishseas]

Excellent! A good life.

[@jorybennett5932]

Good job the film was made when it was. The cargoes and the docks of the Port of London has changed a lot since.

[@pugwash1705]

I'm sure my Dad, Tom, would have known your Dad. He used to mention someone called Eric Window and one other whose name escapes me.

[@Satman-u3c]

My uncle Vic Window was a Skipper on General VI I believe and cousin Colin on the Woolwich ferry now.

[@jennyoshea1958]

What a lovely informative documentary. Fascinating history of men who actually worked in the docks prior to regeneration. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this.

[@vinnieleader]

What a beautiful film. I've always lived by the Thames and now at 50 years old, have only just been staring to learn about the history of this amazing river. Thank you.

[@kennethvenezia4400]

Great video and wonderful history lesson. Love and respect to all the Lightermen & Watermen from NY.

[@diamond66ist]

The Thames was part of my life growing up in Woolwich , a dirty old river but it has a special place for all Londoners.

[@missj.d9187]

Thank you so much for this and I'm so impressed with the school teaching their pupils such an important history! I went to Chissenhale school Off Roman Road Market less than 10 minutes away from the FREE Victoria and Albert Children's Museum and we were never even taken there ! We were in the heart of history which people came from all over the world to see a we didn't have a clue. Here I am as an adult teaching myself. I was shocked to find out about the Bryant & may matchstick girls. I've recently traced my entire family tree that all come from Bethnal Green / Stepney area for over 200 years and all that history lost. Bravo to persons involved with this project. Hope your all safe and well especially during these tricky times!

[@Waveluth]

Just an old man from the USA wondering if such jobs still exist? What a great job to build character in a young man. ✌️👍🇺🇸

[@ericwilliams2317]

I never worked on the river, but was lucky to be born near it and lived in Hammersmith for many years. Through that, I met many of these Watermen who became great friends of mine. They were great company, very funny and hard drinkers, plus there was always a 'fiddle' to be had. As a kid, I spent loads of time messing about on the foreshore, getting filthy dirty and sometimes picking up old clips of .303 ammo from underneath Hammersmith bridge. Then, after starting work in 1976 and having a couple of bob, I bought my first boat from the owner of the local boatyard (my first intro into the world of the Watermen) and finally sold my last one back in 2005. I no longer care for London very much, but I still love the river, and now, nearing retirement, I still love to be near it and find myself harking back to the great times we had, with my old mate Al (Alan) getting me very pissed - again, and talking me into buying yet another boat off him. God bless you all lads!!

[@traceychappell5222]

I come from a long line of Waterman and Lighterman, so interesting, thank you

[@ZL54JK8]

This film is gold dust! Thank you for your vision in keeping alive this record of the Thames, that was once a working river. It reminds us as well of times now gone when a person's work gave them an identity that they valued. Does that apply at all today? I remember another film on the Thames that I saw on the "Making of Modern London" series in which it said of the deal porters who handled the soft woods and timbers in the Surrey Docks, that you could always recognize a deal porter "by his calling", meaning that his physical appearance showed the effect his job had on him. No doubt containerisation and "roll on, roll off" methods of handling cargoes were an inevitable result of progress, but the cost was great and was to measured in human terms. This wonderful film demonstrates that so well.

[@digitalworks51]

There's actually a follow up film made about Dockers on the Thames here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXa5e4d_jaqkZsk

[@brendansheerin8980]

@@digitalworks51 thanks

[@directorstu]

I'm sure it was hard. But I envy their closeness to nature and the community.

[@JonasStuart]

I loved every minute of this. I lived on the Thames at Galleons Lock and Woolwich for 7 years and loved watching the activity on the river and remnants of the old world every where you looked. It was easy to imagine the busy goings-on of yesteryear so it's great to have an account like this to fill in some of the blanks. Amazing. ❤

[@seanoconnor5737]

Great film, My father was a lightermen all his life also his grandad and great grandad before him. Shame its a dying trade now.

[@lesleybass2739]

There is footage of my grandad Ernest benge on here steering the boat he passed away about 25 years ago

[@jerryoshea3116]

I know this is a old comment,but ur Grandad,all of these other truly fascinating, hardworking,gritty and tough characters most def need/deserve a mention All u can do is"Tip ur hat"to them..A 6 to 7 yr apprenticeship,working long hrs, extremely hard and dangerous work,going to Navigation school,the list goes on.. And ironically I went to a Secondary school in Upper North St E14,(just off the East india dock rd)from 1976-1980,and most of the kids lived around that area"Over the Island" they used to call the Isle of dogs(The Docklands area now of course)and being as I was raised in hackney I really had no knowledge or appreciation of the Area's History!..Such a brilliant Documentary,not like all of this "Reality Tv"BS..Good luck&stay well..

[@Improveng1]

Absolutely fantastic documentary. What a wonderful profession and what a wonderful set of characters, brilliant stuff.

[@tonybaker55]

I too am related to a Waterman, John Baker b1777, then his son Emanuel and grandson Robert, my great grandfather, all from Bermondsey. Although the family moved away from the Thames at the end of the 19th century, my dad still worked in London after and before his war service. The draw of London and the water is still in my blood every time I visit.

[@johnlewis9158]

All of my family were lightermen and Watermen. My father worked with George Baker in the late sixties on the dismantling of the old london bridge. I also worked George and a Chris Baker also a lighterman in the late seventies early eighties on the Woolwich ferry

[@tonybaker55]

@@johnlewis9158 They could well be distant cousins then! My family tree needs more investigation then. I remember the old London Bridge, as my Dad worked in Fenchurch St and later near Smithfield and sometimes took me on the train to London. My great great grandfather moved from being a Waterman, as by the 1851 census, he was a Deputy Corn Meter and by 1861, City of London Corn Meter, as sort of weights and measures man for the London Corn Exchange.

[@grantscarman2322]

Terry was so proud of his job, It was privilege to hear the insight into being a lighter man

[@grantscarman2322]

Great history story

[@Relay300]

Fantastic London history thanks for uploading

[@peterbamforth6453]

An excelent slice of working history. You never know when oil runs out or after the next war the waterways may well become a trade rout again.

[@geraldhannibal7654]

So interesting. You've really opened my eyes and educated me. Thank you so much. Best wishes G

[@debbielonglegs6916]

Thank you so much, wonderful documentary. I am trying to trace my family the Hoskins and Corsans. my Nan and her family were such lovely people.found out they date back to 1648 both families Waterman and lighterman and very close to each other. ❤️ Community at its best ❤️

[@adrianbew9641]

My grandfather and my father were lightermen their cousin's as well. Both quit in 1950, my grandad went to work for the gas board at battersea power station until he retired.

[@GreenmanXIV]

Thanks to the 'Company of Waterman & Lightermen', I found ancestors back to Anthony. apprenticed on 04/081693 to Samuel Wigden. Couldn't get an apprenticeship my grandfather died in an accident at 'The British & Foreign Wharf'. My Dad was a driver on the LMS, so I started work on BR. My uncle Bob, was a skipper on Sun Tugs, he apprenticed my cousin Derek, RIP.

[@GreenmanXIV]

@stephen turner Never feed a roll.

[@kenh3344]

Do you think that Denis Waterman filmstar fame.(sweeney, minder, stay lucky, up the junction born was it clapham/ battersea)fame any thing to do with this firm? Just because he came from that area??? I dont know but somebody may know?? Just a thought ??

[@pollyanne9973]

Great video of days long gone....... Full of the rich history of the River Thames and the men who worked there.

[@samuelburleigh1895]

Incredible film, one of last living links to the Thames and Londons history.

[@reccerat4446]

My great grandad used to be a ferryman, and would come from Queensborough, isle of sheppey and would sail up the Thames daily. I wish I’d met him.

[@edwardoleyba3075]

I bet Queenborough was a different place then. I helped bring a 38’ cruiser from the boatbuilders, (Kempers) in Holland a few years back. Docked overnight in Queenborough. The local pub had to get in touch with the customs, (to declare the import of the boat). They eventually came and we took them over to the boat in the tender, (a rubber dinghy). They had a quick look around, stamped the paper and took them back to the quay. Little did I know then that I’d be living there a few years later.

[@drivingaroundjapan5948]

My Granddad skippered a sailing barge out of Greenhithe. Miss the Thames; I knew it when the water was as thick as pea soup and twice as smelly.

[@geraldhannibal7654]

How often do we judge people by their accent and vocabulary? Sorry. I'm so impressed by these men; it shows how important it is today to develop the potential of everyone. Thank you again.

[@chucky2316]

Gerald I would give my right arm just to have a pint with these guys lighter men were never mentioned in our family, until I did my family tree and I was shocked stunned because about 15 years before I had a feeling in east London on the Thames a feeling I have been here before it feels right and I'm a Devon born and bred lad. My grandfather was the last born cockney born in wapping, he wasn't a lighter man maybe he wanted to escape it etc, I know a large bulk of my family went on to live and work in Liverpool. I do wonder to this day how many lighter family's from London moved on to other docks. I'm proud of each and everyone and now I know why I felt that feeling and premonition on the side of the Thames. My family were very well known,

[@johnlewis9158]

There was a cafe in the east end of London that all the lighterman used to use called fag ash Lils where it just so happen Lil would serve up the all breakfasts with a fag always in her mouth so there was always a chance that you would get a little extra with your breakfast. Also there was another cafe by the Surrey docks that was legendary and it was owned by a man named charlie Lunn. Why was this cafe Legendary you may ask. Well in this particular cafe it didn't matter what you ordered be it egg on toast or whatever when the plate arrived at your table regardless of what you ordered the plate always contained bacon sausages eggs mushrooms and fried tomatoes. This cafe had such good reputation that people would drive miles to have there breakfast there. I know i have gone off topic here it seems that i have ended up in the wrong thread. never mind

[@JazzFunkNobby1964]

@@chucky2316 I remember the chucky family.

[@chucky2316]

@@johnlewis9158 it's interesting history they must have been very tough hard people I should think

[@johnlewis9158]

@@chucky2316 I couldn't even begin to tell you how hard these men were. My father for instance a lighterman was as hard as they come. In fact like many lighterman and regent canal dockers he was also in his younger days a professional thief a bank robber to be precise.

[@steveluckhurst2350]

brilliant film. interesting . top men.

[@yachty1949]

A wonderful film about a way of life now over never to be seen again. Progress changes things usually for the better but sad at the same time that the skills and 'characters' on the Thames are no more.

[@simonyip5978]

I have been along the Thames on some of the tourist vessels from HMS Belfast to Greenwich, and to the Houses of Parliament etc. I'd have loved to have seen how busy it was back in the 1940's to the 1960's etc.

[@JazzFunkNobby1964]

I remember going on our annual Beano to Margate. Never remembered coming back.

[@pieretteturner822]

Fantastic, very interesting, thank you

[@jameslock9275]

This is brilliant thank you so much for the uploads 😁

[@delzworld2007]

The history of the docklands is the history of London. As a centre of trading, the docks were responsible for making Britain what it was many years ago, a rich trading nation. Things have moved on, probably after the advent of the shipping container.

[@1billwill]

Great video ,The good old days.

[@walshydpo]

As an ex merchant seaman I remember an old lighterman who came to work on the ferries. Force Ten Ken who skippered the Pochahontas.

[@matthewbeamish9881]

Great piece of work - thanks very much

[@joshua8WSnorman]

Fabulous documentary...great job

[@geoffhalstead1811]

33:11 - 'When my boat comes in' My parents would say that on occasion & I never understand what they meant, but now I do👏

[@pauldillon4056]

A great band of brothers

[@michaelpage2151]

My Great Uncle was a lighterman and won the Doggett Coat and Badge. Went on to found a company building large passenger cruisers on the Thames. He was R. G.O'dell.

[@avalondreaming1433]

How many of us can say this about our jobs?

[@simplayuk3120]

My father Victor Walsh passed his apprenticeship just before the war ? bound year 1937 master was Howe

[@ericlakota6512]

Im amarican but love the britis tv it helps we all speak english british are so smart makes sense usa chose and ended up speaking english up to date canada speeks french but Europe was varry big and light years ahead with industrial age invented almost all we use to day and over last 100 year it was profectd

[@peterwalton1502]

Fantastic stories. My family all worked on the Thames 👍👍

[@jimhallinsn1023]

I had no connection with the lighterman however on those occasions when my parents dragged me to St Margaret's Lee, at the top of Belmont Hill, I enquired from my mother who the elderly lady was, wearing a matching tweed jacket skirt, court shoes, odd hat and occasionally smoking cigars. "That is Mrs Fisher, sometimes known as mother Thames". That was the 1950's, she was quite a character.

[@PWizz91]

Ok didn’t expect that song at the beginning to be so good

[@geoffgeoff5586]

Even though my ancestors were lightermen and watermen fom the 1850s to 1900 I would think the stories of my g.g gandfather and g. grandfather and their brothers up until the 1930s. maybe later, would have similar tales to tell. I've often wondered if anyone knew of the Embletons that worked the river. Great video.

[@animarriott]

What a fantastic film.

[@charlotteosman1152]

I came from Bermondsey near butlers wharf hays wharf all around that manner, as a little girl I remember all around the wharf s smelling of spice like bread pudding where it used to be used from ships bringing over the goods tea sugar banana s bring it all back PLEASE.

[@johnlewis9158]

Tooley street wasn't called England's larder for nothing

[@ravicabral2522]

Wonderful!

[@johnadams3730]

My grandfather was a skipper before the war on the Tug the Gnat on the Thames been trying to find out more his name was Morris Charles Brown.

[@johncourtneidge]

Thank-you!

[@karenbarker9474]

The guy with the sine camera at the beginning is my uncle Eric Everest. My Dad was Bill Everest. Anyone know them?

[@edwardhudson9851]

This is Gold

[@joheaney4099]

My great grandfather was a water man in the 1800s

[@josephinebennington7247]

In the 1960s (I was about 12) I spent a lot of time watching the river at Woolwich and Greenwich, and poking about the Royal Docks in places where I shouldn’t have been. Not in a lighterage family. I was always intrigued how many small boats there were, some open, some decked, some cabined. But none were like the obvious tugs actually doing a job. Just bumbling about, going somewhere…but where? Who was the helmsman, who did he work for? A bit like the little boat at 8.16. Maybe… now I know.

[@MsRichycon]

A Bombay oyster wow that's a mans breaky if ever Iv heard one love this doc no pun intended 😊

[@pauls9440]

Plenty of lighter men on the south side of the Thames not just the East End!

[@JazzFunkNobby1964]

Both sides of the Thames can be in East London didn't you know.

[@johnlewis9158]

More in fact a lot more lighterman years ago(from the forties through to the sixties) lived in Bermondsey and Rotherhihe south east London than in any other part of London

[@fandangofandango2022]

Great History.

[@copee2960]

Whilst at Gravesend Sea school in 88 the old officers told me all about the strange rock plinths with strange markings in them.... lightermen.

[@ABM750]

I would hope this would be taught in schools

[@hughtierneytierney3585]

I'm curious about the London map that features behind the interviewees. Does anybody know what it's representing with all those oval shapes?

[@digitalworks51]

Hi Hugh, it's the Abercrombie/Forshaw map from 1944. Details here: nightingaledvs.com/patrick-abercrombies-the-greater-london-plan/

[@chucky2316]

Nice too hear these guys and story's anyone remember the stagg family please reply :)

[@jenniferbrooks87]

Who is singing the song at the beginning? Its so good

[@digitalworks51]

It's the wonderful Vincent Burke: www.vincentburke.co.uk/

[@johnlewis9158]

My grandfather was called Dick Tiger Lewis after the boxer i think. My bother was called quick Dick because he talked very fast

[@fernandosantosacordionista4010]

veery good

[@tonystone3397]

Very good

[@whathasxgottodowithit3919.]

7 years apprenticeship, 5 years making tea, and 2 years learning the ropes. Closed shop Mafia

[@TheMrgaztop]

Mafia. Give it a rest.

[@christophercook723]

Same in printing that changed overnight withe the move to Canary Wharf.

[@christophercook723]

​@@TheMrgaztopHe means a closed shop of Unions.

[@chrismccartney8668]

Be asked to get tin of elbow grease at my first office job

[@dixieboy5689]

Blimeee... good thing for sub-titles !!

[@jacquelineharrod6386]

???? You are joking? Perfectly easy to understand these men.

[@dixieboy5689]

@@jacquelineharrod6386 >>> I dont speak English , so subtitles are a big help. Im glad to learn about this way of life from the past. Thanks.

[@steveclancy6474]

London Cabbies maybe next? My dad was in the press (pre & post Wapping) so old Fleet St before becoming a London Cabbie at about 50. Given GPS I doubt The Knowledge is a skill that will be much valued soon.

[@digitalworks51]

Hi Steve, we did actually follow this up with a film about London Cabbies! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqash4eBbrmYeLc

[@paulhanger7242]

Real men

[@SMADARETEP]

whats the song

[@digitalworks51]

It's a poem that was written by a lighterman a long time ago put to music by Vincent Burke. It's called Ballad of the Last Lighterman

[@SMADARETEP]

@@digitalworks51 Thank you

[@alandavid7874]

I was born in the wrong time, I would love to work the river I live on!

[@GhostBoxmedium]

My Ex father in law was a lighterman as was his father and brother. The Peeks

[@chucky2316]

Did some of the family move on to other areas like some of mine moved on to Liverpool I guess the work was there for a bit longer.

[@GhostBoxmedium]

@@chucky2316 They retired to Maldon Essex

[@mackfin8869]

My granddad was a dustman in Camden Town

[@kimballard8362]

My late fatherinlaw drove for BRS man the stuff he would bring home from the docks early 60s-70s

[@christophercook723]

My uncle did the same until Container ships came in.

[@mitreswell]

Primitive way to unload a ship, no surprise it all came to an end.

[@Tmuk2]

I think would have preferred this as a career instead of being chained to a desk 7 hours a day

[@TheFirstCalled.60AD]

666 likes... Don't worry I got you

[@roypotter3800]

:

[@bargainwallart653]

My dadwas a lighterman David Arthur Corbett Pickles fame salt of the earth.

[@Andy-x3e4z]

Us Real seafarers merchant navy would call them RIVER RATS OR ROCK DODGERS ,Because they’d never been anywhere or never further than the mouth of the river.

[@TheMrgaztop]

But they kept the country fed. And when you came alongside, they emptied your bucket. Without them, you would still be waiting to tip your load...

[@Andy-x3e4z]

@@TheMrgaztop They took half the load to the pubs to sell or down the markets wha are you talkin about,