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AN EAST END MEANDER
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What is the most recognised geographical feature in Britain? The White Cliffs of Dover? Ben Nevis? Lands End? Probably not. Five days a week millions settle down to watch an aerial view of East London which together with that oh-so-familiar theme tune signals the next installment of the nations favourite soap opera. The outstanding feature of that aerial view is a huge loop in the River Thames. Such a bend is known by geographers as a meander. This particular meander happens to lie at the heart of one of the most exciting and dynamic urban landscapes in the world. On a bright Saturday in early March sixteen Year 12 geographers hungry for knowledge, or in some cases just hungry, set out on a trip that would literally take them round the bend. In the next few hours they were to cross a three metre river of sewage, pass an eighteenth century gunpowder mill, cross from the eastern hemisphere of the world to the west and back again, burrow under the mighty Thames in a steel lined tunnel, pilgrimage to the place where all the worlds time begins and finally pass within a few metres of Britain’s most spectacular beast the Great White Elephant (otherwise known as the Millennium Dome). This was to be real Geography, learned through the soles of the boots!
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There were two pleasant surprises for the group as it assembled. One was the fact that in spite of a gloomy weather forecast it was dry and bright. The second was the presence of so many guest lecturers. The Technology, Science, Mathematics, Sociology, Psychology, Music, English and, of course Geography Departments were all represented. Chandler, Stone, Boyd, Bolton, Szwaba, Atherfold et al. The staff roll included some of the most illustrious names in the world of academia. Mr. Lee was the sole representative for the parents, but he was more than equal to the task and drew nervous glances from more than one experienced teacher with his reporter’s notebook and restless pen.
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Mr Atherfold and Mr Davies were fully agreed that not only was this one of the most able and well motivated groups that they had worked with, but also one of the fastest moving. Rapid progress was made across West Ham Park and along Abbey Lane to the Northern Outfall Sewer (now known as the Greenway, but still a 10 foot diameter pipe full of sewage). Lecture followed lecture. Urban architecture, sewerage, flood control and even Mr. Bolton’s concise but illuminating explanation of, ‘daylight robbery’ did not slow progress. Notes were made, questions asked, shoulders were squared and the expedition moved relentlessly on. Three Mills, Limehouse Basin and The Isle of Dogs came and went. Through the Greenwich foot tunnel and up the hill to the Royal Observatory the pace never slackened. Seven and a half miles down only two and a half to go. The group rested (apart from Edward and Samrat who seemed keen to get as far away as possible and had to be summoned back from the far side of the park by mobile telephone) and re-fuelled. Naomi and Colleen reluctantly agreed to join the group photograph and then we were off again. The final phase of the journey was along the south bank of the Thames which provided an interesting contrast to the wealth and splendour of the modern buildings on the other shore. Sudden drenching rain in the last minutes of the walk meant that the great Dome was largely unnoticed as the intrepid group scurried for the underground station. The final uplift if any were needed was provided by a quick survey which suggested that over £1,000 in sponsorship had been raised towards the big adventure – the Geography field trip to Iceland in April.
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