Photography on the River

Some of our HDS patients were taken out for the day on the Kingfisher boat cruising up the River Medway.

‘The Kingfisher Medway Trust is a registered charity. It was set up to commission the building of a boat, which would provide river trips for disadvantaged people of all ages.

She was designed by a marine architect and constructed to meet all necessary safety requirements and is licensed to carry a maximum of 12 passengers.

A team of qualified skippers and trained crew members, all volunteers, operate the boat on its trips from her berth at Wateringbury on the river Medway.’ – www.kingfishermedwaytrust.org.uk

After being safely driven to the Marina by our mini bus driver for the day Lissie (onw of our Health Care Assistants) we were all surprised by how easy it was to get on to the boat with the use of the fabulous lift.

Once we were seated comfortably and made a cup of tea by the wonderful crew, Nell Mellerick, the Creative Artist at the Hospice, handed out cameras.  The patients had great fun using them, to capture life on the river.  We saw so much, swans, dragonflies, fishermen, moorhens, the occasional fish, some beautiful canal boats and we even caught a few glimpses of a kingfisher!

Some beautiful photographs were taken and a yummy pack lunch provided by our wonderful catering team at the Hospice.

Nina, one of our Day Service patients had never been on a boat before in her life, ‘It was fantastic!  Everyone was so helpful and lovely.  We saw many things and I found the journey so relaxing and peaceful to be on the water.  The crew were fabulous and even let me steer the boat for a little while!’

A big thank you to the crew of the Kingfisher and to Lissie, our driver for the day!  Look out for the photographs being exhibited at the hospice some time soon.