THAMES
Green light for historic boat collection
A priceless collection of Thames wooden boats and river-related artefacts will get the home it deserves, after council planners unanimously granted permission to redevelop the historic Hobbs boatyard site at Henley.
The decision, overturning an initial planning officer refusal, secures a safe future for the Rose Toop Collection, which was formed by Adam Toop, merging the Rose Collection, started in 1965 by Bill and Penny Rose, with his own. The latter includes launches previously reported on in Classic Boat including Islay, 1922 (CB 246) and Rainbow, 1920 (CB270).
Mr Rose died in 2021, shortly after Mr Toop acquired the Hobbs site with a view to redeveloping it to house the collection. The initial refusal and subsequent planning wrangles have delayed Mr Toop’s plans, but he gained widespread support in the Henley community and further afield, including from former Prime Minister Theresa May.
He was supported at the Planning Committee meeting by local figures including Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent representing Henley Royal Regatta, actor Jeremy Irons, President of the National Transport Trust the Honourable Lady McAlpine, Chairman of the River and Rowing Museum David Worthington, the
