Five intrepid pensioners took to the Thames in kayaks to paddle from the Cremone Boating Centre in Chelsea to Tower Bridge and back. The group of five made up of four women and one man aged from 62 to 68 completed the ten-mile round trip in three hours.
They left Cremone on the ebb tide. After reaching Tower Bridge they travelled further down the Thames to St Catherine Dock where they stretched their legs and built some rocky sandcastles before returning to Cremone.

The group approached the Council to see if they could use the centre after seeing young people enjoying its facilities. The centre was developed to provide services for young people but it has a community remit; as a result the group have been able to use it and have been receiving tuition on kayaking every Friday since September.

Daisy Alexander, 63, from Chelsea, one of the kayakers said: “We all had such a fantastic time although it was very tiring. I have made some great friends through the Boating Centre and so it was great that we could all encourage each other through this challenge.

We are all so proud of each other for completing the ten-mile trip and being able to show that kayaking doesn’t have to only be for young people! I am grateful to everyone at the boating and Council who made this possible.”

Councillor Fiona Buxton, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said: “It’s so fantastic to see some of our older residents taking part in this event at Cremorne Boating Centre. By all accounts they had a great time and managed to cover over ten miles which is an amazing feat! I send my congratulations to them, they are a great inspiration to all of our residents. ”

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