“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
The annual Club Picnic, Punt and Plunge in Oxford has been going on since time immemorial, traditionally on or as close as possible to, St George’s Day, which actually falls on the Sunday this time.
Friday 21st: As tradition dictates, there is usually dinner at the Cherwell Boat House for those who like to make a weekend of it. Details to come but kick-off is usually around 7.30pm.
Saturday 22nd: recent tradition has been to meet at the Bear on Alfred Street at 11am for a sharpener and to admire the tie collection, though last year we found it mysterious shut. Not sure if that was just a post-Covid thing. If it turns out to be a permanent state of affairs then we will find another watering hole. Then we make our way to our old friends at the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse—we've been punting with them for over ten years now and they keep letting us come back. Meet at the Boathouse at midday.
We'll punt upriver, stop off for a shared picnic, listen to the complaints of those doing the punting and assure them we'd help out but with this back problem and you know what it's like at this time of year for my knees and you're doing such a good job and then punt back for a night of revels in Oxford. Traditionally we haul the boats over the rollers and continue, though it has actually been several years since the water was low enough for us to access the rollers. Last year we couldn’t even make it that far, as the river was blocked by fallen trees, so we ended up returning to the boatyard and having our picnic in the botanical gardens.
There will of course be the Sweepstake. A pound to enter and you get a number as does everyone else in the game. If you have the number of the person who falls in you sweep the pot. No one knows anyone else's number other than an incorruptible member of the Glorious Committee so you can't push anyone in to get rich quick. Someone falls in each and every year so there's everything to play for.
You'll need to bring cash for punting—there is no cash point near the Boat House and they take no cards—which will be about £22 a head (a punt is £22 per hour), more cash for the pub, plus picnic food and drink.
Sunday 23rd: There is usually a meet-up for brunch/lunch on the Sunday before people head home.