Once again, RAS was invited by the Thames Environment Trust to take part in work on the Thames foreshore during the annual river drain off. Whilst volunteers of all ages were enthusiastically engaged in clearing the foreshore of scrap metal and other discarded objects, RAS members were on hand to identify any finds of archaeological interest. On Sunday 5 November, a group of RAS members took advantage of the brilliant Autumn sunshine to plot a series of medieval? posts by the White Cross public house, adding to earlier RAS survey work. We were excited to discover a newly exposed horizontal piece of revetment or jetty, which we managed to plot just before it was re-submerged by the incoming tide.

RAS member Charles Keggan assisted with the clean-up by Richmond Bridge. Items retrieved included a bicycle and several scooters but nothing of archaeological significance. There was a bit of a stir when RAS Secretary John Costello found an unexploded Second World War shell. He assured us that there was no immediate danger and has since safely dismantled it offsite.

John is keen to do some work near the London Apprentice pub in Isleworth and will be letting us know when he is ready to go ahead.

Yvonne Masson