Chunga Latte: Boat Trip to Mapleduram

Mapleduram House

The four of us boarded the train and on arrival at Reading had a discussion as to the best way to our rendezvous. It was a pleasantly warm Saturday and Autumn was being held back by a determined late Summer's day. We went my route, though it may not have been the best and found the pub, close to a church that stated “Jesus Saves”. The words were on the front in the shape of a cross.
More joined us at the pub in Caversham. Our numbers had grown to about a dozen. I had a burger, chips and a drink for less than a fiver and after the others had eaten, we began our walk to the boat.
A coach party boarded the Devon Belle first, then our group. I found a place at the stern after someone else moved back inside, probably to get a seat.
Then at five to two, we set off. The engines throbbed noisily as they pushed the boat upriver towards our destination. Diesel smoke scented the air every now and then, depending on which way the wind blew.

On board the Devon Belle

I thought of filming some of the journey, but as I stood on the port side we passed fields of debris and piles of rubbish. There was even an abandoned tent. It was the remains of the weekend after the weekend before – Reading Festival.
The scenery grew more pleasant and included a railway, partially obscured by trees.
Eventually, the boat turned to starboard and headed delicately into a backwater and we landed at Mapleduram.

Before disembarking, I was pleasantly surprised that our boat had been a Little Ship at Dunkirk in 1940. My imagination took me away as I realised this boat had probably once had to dodge German dive-bombers and strafing fighters. I thought how she must have pressed onwards bravely to collect columns of desperate servicemen, up to their waists in water, trying to escape from the beaches. How relieved they must have been to land in good old Blighty, rescued by this old boat!

Devon Belle's plaques for Operation Dynamo

Back in the present day, we were about to enjoy another wartime adventure.
At first, our group of four went to see The Old Watermill and we recalled the scene from the classic war film – The Eagle has Landed (1977). Someone joked “Shall we recreate the scene?” We all laughed. In the film, a young child fell in and was rescued by one of the German uncover paratroopers. I won’t spoil the plot anymore than that.
We then saw the tower of St Margaret's Church and I recalled a sniper being up there – in the film of course.

A Poster for the film The Eagle has Landed

Mapleduram House, completed in 1612, was old enough, not just to remember the last two Worlds Wars, but The English Civil War (1642 to 1646). We had a one track mind and asked the guide about The Eagle has Landed. The lady recalled Michael Caine (Col. Kurt Steiner). “Oh he was lovely – he was wonderful!” she said with hands clasped together and giddy as a schoolgirl. “They were here for about six months.” The room we were in had been in the penultimate scene – the scene with Winston Churchill.
We looked at a folder containing photos of various films that had been filmed there and as soon as we saw a photo of Michael Caine, the guide was oohing and aahing and stroking the picture.

The decorative bands in the brickwork of Mapleduram House

Moving upstairs and through the first floor, I noticed a couple of things of interest. The first was a piece of teak furniture with a lock. We were invited to guess what its purpose was and then told the answer as no one knew. It was used to lock away the tea. Yes, tea was £1 per pound in those days and locking it up was to keep it away from the servants, or keep under control how much they had. The second item was a worn out maroon cushion, but this was the one Queen Victoria had knelt on during her Coronation on 28th June 1838 at Westminster Abbey. I asked how it was obtained. The guide said it was given to a Lady-in-Waiting – possibly as a present.

The Old Watermill

Back outside, I visited one of the outbuildings containing a couple of signs used in our now favourite film and there was a 1:72nd scale model of Mapleduram during the filming, complete with military vehicles and even a model soldier lobbing a hand grenade. Great stuff!

Cream Teas had been advertised as part of the trip. I was tempted to go for coffee, but thought I must keep up the English tradition. When at a centuries old Manor House, on a Summer's day, tea on the lawn is so quintessentially English. So I carried my tray with a pot of tea and milk, found a table and soaked up the atmosphere reflecting on the day so far. This was a good way to spend a Saturday, I thought.

St Margaret's Church

On the voyage back to Caversham I had a seat viewing the portside. The view was far more scenic and as we sailed downriver, I realised the etiquette of being on the water. Boating crews wave to each other. Even if a crew is deep in thoughtful conversations, waving is still the done thing. We even saw a boat full of pirates. The crew were in full costumes and high spirits as they shouted “Ooh arrrr! Ha harr!”

We knew we were back in the real world when we heard the loud noise of the traffic racing around the roads as we walked back to the station. It genuinely was quite a shock!