Five Sydenham High senior rowers had a royal experience at the ForeShore Festival last weekend (Saturday 23 September).

They received the exciting invitation to join Dulwich College’s senior rowers in taking the oars of the Queen’s beautiful ceremonial barge, The Gloriana, and had the honour to row her on the Thames at the annual river event at Putney.

The conditions were perfect – sunny, warm and calm – and the girls rowed in perfect rhythm with their DC counterparts from the bow of the barge.

The Gloriana is a 90-foot-long (27 m) British row barge. She was privately commissioned as a tribute to the Queen for her Diamond Jubilee, and was the lead vessel in the Diamond Jubilee Pageant which took place on the Thames in 2012.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and it will serve as an inspiration to all 42 school rowers in years 9-13 as they get started with their training this term.