9th December 2015: Old Father Thames – life in the old man yet? Dr David Hilling:  

 

• Old Father Thames – life in the old man yet? Dr David Hilling:  will examine the changing character and hardening of the Thames river/land interface and the emergence of London as a supreme example of a ‘lighterage’ port – arguably at its peak the world’s foremost. The changing system of cargo-handling technology will be described with the consequences with respect to existing dock systems, riverside terminals and the movement of freight on the river. Factors influencing the recent increase in traffic, freight and passenger, will be profiled and potential for the future assessed.

 

• Dr David Hilling is a retired university lecturer in geography (Ghana, London) with a career and continuing interest in cargo-handling technology, port development and inland waterways and the promotion of waterborne freight. With nearly 50 years in London he has a special concern with the Thames and freight movement. He is a co-opted member of the freight group of the Greater London Authority’s Waterway Commission and a member of the Berlin-based European River Sea Transport Union. He is the author of Barge Carrier Systems (1978), Transport and Developing Countries(1996),  editor with B S Hoyle of Seaport Systems and Spatial Change(1987)  and author of over 110 articles on ports, waterways and Africa.

 

Venue:  

11 am The Rainmaking Loft, St Katherine' Dock

 

Cost:

£10 for the lecture plus the cost of the light lunch / finger buffet afterwards

Numbers are strictly limited so please book early

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