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The following are memories recalled by Elsie Williams, as recorded by Hanover Housing Association in their book 'Tale of the Century' published in 1999.
All my life I have lived not very far from Old Father Thames, first in London and from 1940 in Reading. The river holds many happy memories for me which I treasure.
 As a child in London I can remember many family outings to Greenwich Park. We approached the park from Blackheath and, entering the gates, walked down a very wide, long avenue of trees which ended with a statue of General Wolfe overlooking the river.
Greenwich Palace was in the foreground and on the other side of the river were the docks. Nearby was the Royal Observatory which housed the 24 hour clock and, most importantly, the Meridian Line. As a child I marvelled at standing on such a world-wide important spot. Outside the park was The Round House, a circular tea-place with an open terrace upstairs.
Occasionally we would traverse the Greenwich tunnel, which goes under the river to the Isle of Dogs, from there we had a splendid view of the Greenwich Palace. We would also watch the many and various craft that travelled up and down the busy river.
In the school holidays, my friend and I would take an early morning tram to Greenwich Pier and then get on a paddle steamer, The Royal Sovereign. This would take us out to the estuary and to Southend-on-Sea -- all for the sum of one shilling (5p) return!
We would spend a lovely day on the beach, which always included a shrimp tea, returning home tired but happy. Other times we would take a tram to Woolwich and travel across to the other side on the free ferry, in the company of horses, carts and all kinds of vehicles.
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