The Thames Vintage Boat Club was founded at Old Windsor in March 1983 to provide a club and forum for all types of traditionally built craft; to seek to encourage their restoration, maintenance, and above all, their use, and also to produce and maintain an historical record of all traditional craft on the river Thames.

If you love boats such as those shown above, you should be a member! (See below for link to Membership Application Form)

Now in our fifth decade, we can look back on a remarkable success in our aims over the past years. We have around 300 members (and growing) and our boat membership is around 250, amongst which will be found the finest builds and restorations anywhere (some of our boats are shown above, together with photos from many of our club functions over the years). Our members include most of the reputable boat builders on the upper Thames, noted experts on engines, design, boat types and history, and many gifted amateurs.

We provide a very lively social calendar both on and off the water, and a friendly environment for all, from the interested to the enthusiast and from individuals to families.  Our club burgee, boaters, sweatshirts and badges are distinctive and a familiar sight on the river Thames.

We also have one of the lowest annual subscriptions of any boating club. If you have a real interest in traditional boats, or just like being around them, you will find a welcome with the TVBC. Speak to any of our members flying the TVBC burgee (buff and brown with our logo), and they will be pleased to meet and inform you.

Alternatively call or email any of our Honorary Secretary or Membership Officers listed below and they will be very happy to help you.  Here is a link to the TVBC Membership Application Form

Origins of the Club

1983 The Thames Vintage Boat Club had its genesis at Wilson's Boat-yard,
Sunbury, early in  1983, where Paul Skerritt and Mike Ayling were working on Paul's boat 'Knave of Hearts'. They were discussing the idea of forming a club when Robin Newlands happened to pass by. The discussion continued, but it was not until the end of the year that things started to happen.
   Paul Skerritt, who was involved with the Vintage Motorboat Club of Great Britain, called at Robin's house to suggest the setting up of a Thames branch. But Robin, who had collected the names and addresses of 80 or 90 traditional boats for the Thames Traditional Boat Rally, was determined that any new club should be a Thames club in its own right.
   The first real meeting was on December 30, when five people - Roger Browne, Robin Newlands, Martine Bailey, John Hone and Peter Skerritt - agreed that those present, together with Kit Cuthbert, Mike Ayling and Frank Bandey, would be known as the founders. The purpose and principles of the Club were discussed and a constitution based on that of the RYA was agreed. 
(Photo: Robin Newlands - Founder - receiving an award for 30 yrs of service in 2019)

1984 A second meeting was held on January 20, 1984, at which Robin was designated Commodore. It was agreed that a newsletter called 'The Boater' should be issued bi-monthly.
   Recruitment of founder members began in order to raise funds to pay for flags, plaques and regalia. An advert was placed in boating magazines asking for a forty pound subscription. Among those who responded were Tony and Sandra Sanders. Sandra recalls that after paying the money she heard nothing for a few weeks and when she rang Mike was told "we haven't got started yet."
   A meeting was held at the Sanders' house and a list of about 70 people who had responded to the advert was drawn up.
   On June 4, 1984, the inaugural meeting was held at the Quarter Deck Club attached to John Crevald's Boatyard at Windsor. The first boat to join the TVBC was 'Wise Folly', owned by Robin Newlands, a 28ft 6in Budden and Hart-built gentleman's launch of 1915, which originally belonged to the owner of the Elephant and Castle. She has the plaque TVET01. (She underwent a major restoration very recently at Dennett's boatyard and currently looks magnificent).
(Photo: Wise Folly in the early 1980s with Robin and his family on board)