It’s supposed to be ‘flaming June’, but on the Saturday it was anything but on the first day of the annual Durham Regatta. Leaden skies and heavy rain for most of the day put paid to picnics along the course of the regatta between Baths Bridge and Pelaw Woods. Sunday saw an improvement, of sorts, in the weather, in that it remained mostly dry and there was even the odd glimpse of sunshine at times.
Durham Regatta dates all the way back to 1834 and it is the second oldest regatta in the United Kingdom after Chester Regatta. In fact it is older than Henley Royal Regatta by 5 years!
The Durham Regatta has its roots in an procession of boats that took place each year between Prebends Bridge and the Old Durham Beck. The annual spectacle commemorated the Duke of Wellington’s victory at the battle of Waterloo.
