HThe Royal Air Force 36 WEEKEND ON AN ISLAND We reached the island under cover of darkness by a small motor-boat which chugged quietly as it brought us lo the quayside. The island itself was ablaze with light and echoing voices resounded in the clear night air. We were welcomed by Miss Hewitt who took us to a large dormitory and showed us the bunks allotted to us. People were in all stages of unpacking; so we also unpacked and went downstairs where coffee was being served. The coffee was welcome although it was a sickly shade of brown and very, very sweet. About midnight we retired to bed. In the morning the flags were ceremoniously hoisted above the quarter deck, the island being an imaginary ship. The ship's bell was rung every hour and half hour. After breakfast we did our Watch duties and I had to sweep the deck; this was a difficult job as it was rather windy that morning. My friends and I and about a dozen others then went rowing in a whaler, which has five oars. The oars are very long and quite heavy, and so we rowed two to an oar. Once an even rhythm is obtained, these boats can be rowed for some distance. In the afternoon the Inter-County Regatta was held and so hundreds of people poured onto the island- The ferry had a very busy time. The Regatta was good fun and was, in fact, won by Surrey West. Middlesex West however, did win some events. That evening, about eleven o'clock, we took all the larger boats upstream to Hampton Court and then tied them together and floated back, singing on the way. The next morning, Sunday, some of us got up at six o'clock to attend Holy Communion which was held in the Officers' Mess. After breakfast my friend and I decided to try canoeing. We attempted to canoe round the island and succeeded without too much trouble. Several canoes did, however, capsize on account of the wash from the ever-growing number of speed boats and pleasure steamers on our part of the Thames. By the afternoon it was even hotter and the number of boats had increased still further. The banks and the pleasure boats were crowded even though it was September. When the crowds were at their thickest, some of the canoeists were practising capsizing, and when the first one overturned, the crowds stood up aghast, but soon realised what was going on. We left the island just after sunset after a truly wonderful weekend on an Island. HILARY PHILLIPS 6LA 37