Published: Friday, 11th July, 2008 15:00
Solar, so good on Thames mission
By Annabel Williams
Comments (0)
Print Article
Sun worshipper: Mike Manisty makes it to Caversham.
A SUNNY day in Reading proved a winner for a father-of-four on an epic green adventure for charity.
Mike Manisty is in the final stages of his bid to become the first person to sail all the way up the River Thames in a solar-powered boat.
One leg took him from Sonning to Whitchurch, passing beneath Reading and Caversham bridges, and The Chronicle caught up with the 59-year-old at Thameside Promenade for a towpath chat.
He said: “Sailing through Reading has been the best so far, actually.
“Henley was a bit of an ordeal, and some of the hooray henries in the gin palaces were a bit snobbish.”
And as he passed through Pangbourne, Mr Manisty also found time to stop for tea with the High Sheriff of Berkshire, Dr Carolyn Boulter.
He started his voyage on June 25, setting off from Westminster, and is due to arrive at the river’s navigable source, near Lechlade in Gloucestershire, later this week.
Mr Manisty, from Windsor, combined the start of his trip with his leaving party, as he retired from his post as chief information officer for the National Offender Management Service.
He added: “As I am retiring I thought I would combine the start of my trip with my leaving party. I set off down the river in my bowler hat, waving. It was a symbolic gesture.”
Mr Manisty spent £1,500 on fitting his 12ft boat, built in 1950 and called Corvelia, with solar panels and two small electric motors.
The former engineer, who is sleeping on board, is raising money for the charity Action for Prisoners’ Families. He also wants to promote eco-friendly boating.
He said: “I have worked in the prison service as the head of IT so I wanted to do something to support the families of prisoners, because there’s a lot of need in that area.”
To follow Mr Manisty’s progress you can log on to his website at www.solarthames.blogspot.com
Further Details
Gaza protest in town centre