CHRISTINE AND CLIVEDEN

Downstream of Cookham we moored below the woods beneath Cliveden House

It was the first of the Thames cruises on the MV Cantara of Dart with Skipper Derek and first mate Sarah-Jane. 

A lovely late April Friday and we motored downstream through Marlow and Cookham. Lock keepers were cheerful and hard at work on their gardens.

 Downstream of Cookham we moored below the woods beneath Cliveden House, former Astor home and now were the super-rich go for play dates. 

On board we enjoyed a super lunch and a walk in the woods.

As I looked up at Cliveden my mind wandered back to the Profumo affair in the early ‘60’s of which I kept a scrapbook much to my Grandmother’s annoyance.

Cliveden House’s website >> http://bit.ly/1GROtum paints a colourful picture:

'The year was 1961. While the Cold War was slowly chilling British politics, Cliveden House was consumed in a sultry summer of sweltering heat. Cooling off in the now famous outdoor pool was Christine Keeler, a nineteen-year-old rumoured mistress of a suspected Russian spy.

The web site continues:

'Profumo and Keeler embarked on an illicit affair following their chance meeting at Cliveden House; an affair which was to force his resignation, irrevocably damage the Prime Minister's reputation, and impact on the course of British politics forever'.

Fun on the River forever!