The Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames was founded in 1514, when the earliest Act of Parliament for regulating watermen, wherrymen and bargemen received Royal Assent from King Henry VIII.
Under a further Act of 1555 the Company introduced apprenticeships for those wishing to learn the skills of the Watermen. In 1700 the Lightermen (carriers of goods/cargo) joined the Watermen’s Company.
In 1780 The Company moved into its own purpose built hall in St Mary at Hill, where we can still be found today. The Company is a working guild and is very actively involved with the life of the River and those who work on it. The Company is governed by a Court of Assistants, led by the Master and four Wardens, who are elected annually by the Court.
Mr Tony Maynard HMW was installed as the 193rd Master of the Watermen’s Company on 10 July 2019. (picture below).
The Wardens for the year are Senior Warden Mrs Gina Blair, Junior Wardens Derek Mann, Ted Gradosielski and Sir David Wootton.
You can follow the Master’s year by reading The Master’s Blog
Some helpful links –
Freemen’s Events
The Company Calender
The Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager
The River Thames Lunch Club
The Watermen’s Company Shop
Annual Dinner – 18th February 2020
The Company’s most formal event of the year, was held as usual at Fishmongers’ Hall with kind permission of the Court of the Fishmongers Company. This allows more Freemen and their guests to attend, was a huge success. The Master’s guest was the senior Alderman below the chair (SABTAC), Alderman Vincent Keaveny. He has the
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Marine Engineering Open Day at Watermen’s Hall
On 11th February, the Company, together with the TSA and South Essex College, held a Marine Engineering Apprenticeship Open Day at Watermen’s Hall. In the photo from left to right – Alan Davis – Met Police Employer, Jonathan Angus – Thames Marine Service TMS Employer, Callum Angus – Apprentice TMS, Ryan Wilmore – Apprentice Met
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