David Suchet's favourite trip
Actor and waterways enthusiast David Suchet is Chairman of the River Thames Alliance, although he admits that he's better known as Hercule Poirot!
He recalls the first time he ever saw the Thames from his narrowboat in 1974. He and his wife, Sheila were cruising around thecanals, which are fairly narrow and calm stretches of water. At Oxford they decided to 'brave the river thames’. David describes how it took their breath away – suddenly in front of them was this very wide and moving stretch of water.
They went downstream with the current on a very hot summer day. Suddenly he remembered that it was Wimbledon week, so he twiddled with the aerial and watched tennis from his boat. After that he and his wife had their first meal on the Thames – it was a very special trip.
Cookham lock is a particular favourite spot of David's. If you moor up behind Cookham Island you really feel at one with nature - it is an idyllic spot.
In 2005, David was filming Poirot at Cliveden. Instead of staying in a hotel, he lived on his barge and his wife would act as a water taxi, ferrying him to work each day.
If you'd like to hear more of David's favourite River Thames trip, download his audio file below.
- 'My Favourite' trip by David Suchet (MP3 - 5 MB)
- Download and listen to David Suchet on the first episode of the visitthames.co.uk podcast