Neil Sinclair previews the talk by Caitlin Davies that opens our River Walks Festival  on Thursday 16th April

Prospect of Whitby picture copyright Neil Sinclair 2015

You don’t have to swim in the Thames to see the historic riverside pub Prospect of Whitby at Wapping Wall. But plenty of people have, including writer, broadcaster, columnist and former Tory MP Matthew Parris. His risky night-time swim across the Thames from Rotherhithe to Wapping is recalled by author and wild swimming enthusiast Caitlin Davies in her fascinating new book Down Stream.

Caitlin Davies

Davies will be reading extracts from the book and championing the cause of river swimming on Thursday 16^th April when she opens the Footprints of London River Walks Festival with an illustrated talk from 7pm at the Prospect of Whitby.

This beautiful pub, named after a coal ship called the Prospect from Whitby, can trace its history back almost 500 years. It was the occasional haunt of famous Londoners such as diarist Samuel Pepys, artist J.M.W. Turner and author Charles Dickens. All derived inspiration from the Thames, as do many Footprints guides leading river and canal-side walks during the two-and-a-half-week River Walks Festival, which ends on 4^th May.

Seats are still available for Caitlin Davies’s talk at the Prospect of Whitby and places can still be booked for Festival walks.