UP TO 1,000 boats will take to the River Thames in June to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee — and a team from the Tamar and Tavy Gig Club will be among the flotilla.

The club said this week it was 'absolutely thrilled and honoured' to have been invited to take part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant to celebrate the Queen's 60 years on the throne.

An application was made last summer by the club and two weeks ago the news came that it had been successful.

'Ginette', the club's Cornish pilot gig, built by local man Brian Nobbs, will be rowed from Putney to Tower Bridge, passing under 14 other historic bridges.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh together with other members of the Royal Family will be on board the barge 'The Spirit of Chartwell', which will be surrounded by all sorts of vessels, not only from the UK but from the whole of the Commonwealth.

This celebration is expected to be one of the largest public events ever held in London with about 20,000 participants. Millions of spectators are expected to watch from the banks of the Thames.

The club has not yet decided who the lucky crew members will be but whoever they are they will certainly be taking part in a historic and once in a lifetime event.

Press officer and ladies' team captain Julie Rendle said unfortunately the event was not open to the juniors because participants had to be over 16.

'There will be six rowers and a cox and another person sitting on the bow,' she said. 'We might have to draw lots because there will be a lot of interest.

'Whoever goes has to be prepared to be on the river for five hours.

'It is amazing that our club has been included, we are absolutely thrilled.'