The River Thames: episode 2

[@ahbenjamin2889]

Life was so difficult. The work hard . Either you worked or no food. These men are special and heroes in my mind.

[@sianwarwick633]

Good to see those rare skills and to hear the stories

[@mickymantle3233]

I remember foggy Wapping right up to Tower Pier in the early sixties. This still held a magical Dickensian atmosphere. The ruby /amber light shining through the frosted pub windows & the slippery cobble stones all played on your imagination. It's all so plastic & sanitised today. I can't bear to walk through those streets anymore.

[@JohnShields-xx1yk]

That's awesome, rowing the barge.

[@DaveSCameron]

As someone who's heritage is aside the River Mersey I feel every aspect and action these narrators talk of, the incredible spirit of the people is far too often overlooked but for me, having so many people who looked after us and the common beliefs were an education that's priceless. #Shipbuilding.

[@manatee2500]

A rare doc about the demise of conventional (breakbulk) cargo handling practices. This is a gem for those of us who have worked in the business and have an interest in maritime history.

[@yvonnewilkinson9855]

Love these documentaries

[@DaveSCameron]

Absolutely delightful yes!

[@marsultra7032]

Great footage

[@neilturner6865]

My family worked on the River all their lives. I e been going to sea for 42 years sailed out of the Royal Docks and Tilbury

[@philipdubuque9596]

Brilliant Documentary! And nice to see Chis Elmers and hear his observations. From 1979 and 1986 (from abandonment to the start of gentrification) I took over 3,000 photographs of this historic area. Well done!

[@haroldofcardboard]

another time. another world ❤️. thank you for the upload.

[@DaveSCameron]

English world and seems like only yesterday.... #OurHistory

[@DaveSCameron]

Such a sumptuous and sublime subject that I can't imagine why anyone would desire anything more? 😂 🇬🇧👏

[@robhedges7647]

I remember as a boy of 3-4 years on New Year's Eve our family all going outside just before 12 to hear all the ships' sirens and then everybody on the street would bang saucepans and pass into each others houses.. the old boy at the end doesn't lie.

[@tjm3900]

I remember that too. My dad was on the PLA police and we lived in Eltham, but even out there we would go to the door step at midnight, New Years, and hear the ships whistles. Dad would find out what ships would play what tune, and we would try to make them out over the sounds of the others. All the neighbors would beat pats and pans or dustbin lids, and everybody would raise a drink to everybody else. If I were back there now,I would probably cry with sadness.

[@ronkemp3102]

Was on BI ship in Royal Albert Dock 1967 remember blowing the horn at midnight don,t remember much after that (duty free)

[@MiltonKeynesEpos]

Great documentary

[@joansavage1857]

My Great Grandad was a lighterman on the Thames!

[@luisortizgervasi3820]

I'm amazed by the accent. This is cockney; isn't it? I mean the accent of the workers living in East End and whose work was closely connected to the docks

[@tjm3900]

Yes, in some parts of London the accent of the people around you sometime in the space of a 100 yards as you moved from one district to another.

[@maxfitnesstraining1585]

Yes, cockney, proper old school Eastender right there

[@davidmonro3270]

In later years I was told English wharf labourers walked onto ships and threw $1,000 worth of shackles and turnbuckles over the side before they started work. Why would they do that? That's without any other damage they could do. When the ship went to Germany it was "yes sir, no sir, you sail at midnight"and the tugs were there on time. From what I know nothing has changed.

[@spensert4933]

And now for something completely different!

[@jamesgoodwin2450]

I think the office blocks will have their day to,and so the world turns

[@tjm3900]

I think so too, COVID has shown us that! How stupid to have a billion £ building that people have to travel to, to work during the day, and then travel back home amid thousands of people doing the same thing.

[@bazza945]

Was that a young Boris Johnson out sailing on the river?!

[@DaveSCameron]

I wish he'd carried on away, far away! 😂