Elisabeth Mainelli
The Sheriffs' Thames Rowing Challenge - David versus Goliath
Fundraising for Sheriffs' & Recorder's Fund
Story
Michael Mainelli & Chris Hayward, are the new Sheriffs in town, Sheriffs of the City of London 2019-2020. Our modern role is to support Lord Mayors in their civic duties promoting London as the world’s leading professional, business, and financial centre.
We are required to preside over every session of the Central Criminal Court throughout our year in office. We support Her Majesty’s Judges in emphasising the importance of rule of law throughout the world. Part of this support is for the Sheriffs' & Recorder's Fund, founded in 1808, giving grants to ex-prisoners and their families in London, to help them stop offending and start a new life.
We start our new life this month, and want to use the traditional Thames association with the Sheriffs and the Lord Mayor during the Totally Thames festival to promote the Fund.
So, the two of us with our consorts, Alex, Chris, Elisabeth, and Michael, shall be "Goliath" in the Lord Mayor's River Progress on Saturday, 28 September, from 13:30 to 16:00, from Chelsea to HMS President -
https://totallythames.org/event/lord-mayors-river-progress
sumptuously escorted downriver in the luxurious royal barge "Gloriana" sipping champagne while overseeing a galley of rowers:
https://www.glorianaqrb.org.uk/
up against the hardworking City of London team, "David", in a traditional Thames cutter, the lovely "Lady Gillett".
We'd say, 'take a bet', but you know who's going to win - support us anyway. We're looking for mass participation and awareness, not massive amounts, so the recommended donation is £10.
[The word 'float' for a parade entry comes from the Lord Mayor's Show, originally waterborne on the Thames.]