Comments on: Bobby Prentice, Waterman & Lighterman

By: Don Rowland

Don Rowland — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 19:28:27 +0000

Hi Bobby, I found your story while confirming that Martin Spencer was no longer with us and reading it brought back so many memories of P & B and the River. Although, never a licensed waterman, I felt that I was accepted in your great fraternity and have so many great memories.

By: Gary george

Gary george — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 13:57:12 +0000

My father (Terry George) worked for mercantile lighterage & then Cory when they took it over. I remember him talking fondly of your family.

By: Ted Hunt

Ted Hunt — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 22:02:24 +0000

Over a period of forty years I taught four thousand apprentice watermen/lightermen at
college and afloat. Bob Prentice, son of old Bob Prentice who worked with my father
old Ted Hunt, stood out above them all.

By: Ann Holden

Ann Holden — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 19:50:27 +0000

I wonder if you have any imformation on my dad, he passed away and I would love to know about his time on the river, he talked about you a lot, my fathers name was John Holden.

By: Peter Chapman

Peter Chapman — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 20:27:12 +0000

I remember an amusing incident during a National Rowing Squad training weekend at Henley on Thames, back around 1973/74. We all had to row a time trial, Bobby Prentice and Martin Spencer were in their double scull and I was close behind them as coxswain of a coxed pair. Halfway during the trial race they were slightly off course close to the riverbank. I could see them heading towards the overhanging branches of a large willow tree and was unable to warn them properly, without upsetting the balance of my own boat. They did not see my warning hand gestures and subsequently disappeared through the tree at full pace and out the other side, undeterred with leaves flying everywhere.

By: Ron drake

Ron drake — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:15:14 +0000

I worked at Mercantile in the 60’s with Bobby & Brian Prentice, nice to see the line continuing.
I wrote an article on Thames.org.uk regarding a Lightermans life, might be of interest,
Ron Drake

By: Gail Williams

Gail Williams — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:05:43 +0000

I was so pleased to find this site. Both my grandfather, John Sawbridge Taylor, and great-grandfather, Joh William Taylor, were Thames lightermen. I look forward to having a trip on Bobby Prentice’s pleasure boat next time I get up to London. Thanks again
Gail (nee Taylor)

By: John Smith

John Smith — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:03:14 +0000

Great pictures, and and excellent reading.

Sally Kettle (see her on Facebook) should have been a “lighterman”, she has already rowed the Atlantic twice!

By: Alan Wylie

Alan Wylie — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:00:09 +0000

This is the liquid history of the river thames,!!

By: Jonathon Green

Jonathon Green — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:34:30 +0000

Readers might like to read about John Taylor, ‘The Water Poet’, another Thames waterman, also unable to resist the lure of longer journeys: http://bit.ly/r65NyE