Men of the Thames

London Live

On London’s iconic river, boats are handled by a closed community of Watermen – men whose families have worked the Thames for centuries.  They were once a powerful working-class tribe, proud of their royal connections and ancient customs.  But, today the jobs are drying up and their traditions are under threat.  With a unique perspective on big river events from the Jubilee Pageant to the Olympics, this film charts the Watermen’s summer of 2012 and a historic way of life fighting to survive.