A LUCKY crew of Cothele Quay Gig Club members are looking forward to a weekend to remember, as they take part in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Thames Pageant on Sunday.

The rowers, aboard their Rodda's-sponsored gig Cream of Cornwall, leave tomorrow (Friday) and head to Chiswick.

They face a barrage of security inspections and miles of red tape before they take their place in the leading section of the massive 1,000-strong flotilla of craft which must make its way downstream to Millwall Docks.

Jeremy Lawrence, coxswain of the crew, said: 'It's going to be an amazing spectacle. When we row past HMS President Pier, all the craft give a loyal salute — we've been practising and it's actually very hard!'

Jeremy said all the craft taking part were expected to be dressed for a 'joyous occasion' to 'create an overall carnival atmosphere' and to be aware of the majesty of the event — profanities were strictly disallowed!

'They are expecting up to five million people to line the route and up to five billion watching it world-wide on TV, which is mind-boggling,' said Jeremy.

The chance to be part of the crew was keenly contested — eventually the names were drawn out of a hat and coincidentally represent rowers of age 20, 30, 40, 50 60 and 70 — in addition to Jeremy, Kelly Elvidge, Olivia Philps, Brian Johnston, Gillian Mannings-Cox, Jane Fitzsimons, Roger Bristow and Rita Hoyle are taking part.

It will be a particularly proud moment for the builder of Cream of Cornwall, Brian Nobbs.

Jeremy said: 'Brian also built Tamar and Tavy Gig Club's Ginette, which will be just three boats away from us — there can't be many people there who will have built two craft in the pageant!'