Jolly Boating

In 1980 I was a PhD researcher in the Energy Research Group at the University of Surrey in Guildford. Mick Patterson, my colleague was in the next office-22BC03 to my 23BC03. He lived in Godalming, and I lived a few miles further South so occasionally I would pickhim up on the way to work. Godalming is upstream of Guildford on the River Wey, that enters the Thames at Weybridge. I rowed and coached the University Boat Club (which I still do) and Mick was an active member of the University Sub Aqua club. During the Summer I sculled in the evenings from Guilford Rowing Club. The course is short compared with our then normal training location at Walton on Thames. There is about 1KM of relatively straight river at Guildford to the 'Red Door' and then for safety reasons you have to go around a couple of bends and turn just below St Catherines Abbey ruins. One Thursday evening I was doing some pieces and resting at the turninig point. I noticed that the river was full of rubbish-papers , envelopes etc. A small brown package, banged against the side of the scull and started to sink. So I grabbed it and threw it into the bottom of the boat. It made a solid thud as it hit , so I opened it. Inside the sodden cardboard was a piece of paper with writing, some sodden tissue and a diver's watch. I put the watch on my wrist so I wouldn't lose it if I capsized and continued training. Unfortunately the band was too small so every time I took a stroke it would spring open. However I knew Mike had a diver's watch so he would know where I could get an extra link. Score! The next day I went stright to work without going through Godalming. As proud as punch with my find-I also kept what was left of the box-I went into Mike's office to show him my new watch. Mikes reaction? 'Thanks Phil for picking up my watch. I didn't need a lift this morning. It must have arrived at home in th epost after I left. Did Di give it to you?' 'No. I found it in the river last night' etc etc etc Its all very simple. Mike sends his watch off for a service. The company posts it back. The postman, for some reason, dumps the sack of post in the river , somewhere between Godlaming and Guildford. The letters and box float some 2km down stream to where I am turning my boat. Of all the flotsum in the river that evening I pick up a small brown box just as it is sinking containing MIke's watch and the remains of the invoice for rhe service. We called the Post Office and they sent someone to the Unviersity to chat to us. They didn't believe our story. Bottom line: Mike has his watch back. I am still rowing.