Meeting with a Lock Keeper, 18/11/02

I must give a huge thanks and big hello to Steve - the lock keeper at Molesey and his wife Cheryl. It's not often in this day and age when you can knock on the door of a complete stranger and be invited in for a chat.

I always take my mobile phone on my walks just in case of emergency. At the start of stage 6, I was on the bus on my way to meet Sue and Alanwhen they called me to let me know they had arrived at the meeting point. When I got off the bus I had a feeling that I'd forgotten something so when I discovered that I had lost my phone while in the pub at lunch time I immediately assumed that I had left it on the bus.

On Monday I noticed I had a message on 1571 and discovered that someone had found my phone on the ground by Molesey lock and had handed it in to the lock keeper. I must have knocked it off my belt when changing jumpers around.

If only I had a tape recorder with me when I visited the lock keeper's house as it was fascinating to listen to Steve talk about his job. He has recently moved in to the lock keepers 'cottage' after taking the job a few months ago following his time working at Teddington lock. He and Cheryl were both very interested to hear of my Thames Path Project and liked the site. I asked if I could take a photo of them for the record but they suggested I use one of theirs instead. He is pictured here with his assistant, Manx. Thanks for sending this to me so promptly Cheryl

A really nice couple - perhaps I should make it a rule to chat to every lock keeper along the river. Maybe I will create a special section dedicated to them...

I would also like to pass on my thanks to the person/people who handed my phone in - whoever you are. I know that some would have hung on to it.