Extraordinary and Hilarious Tale by Award Winning Stand-up Comes
to the River & Rowing Museum on 4 December

22 November 2007: In 2003 comedian, writer and adventurer Tim Fitzhigham decided to raise some money for Comic Relief. His plan: to take a paper boat as far as possible down the River Thames and attempt to break a world maritime record that had stood unbroken for 383 years. On March 12th 2003 at precisely 1pm Tim Fitzhigham glided under Tower Bridge to become the first man in history to take a paper boat 160 miles down the Thames - breaking the record set by the eccentric Jacobian poet and Queens Waterman John Taylor in 1619. By the last day the Royal Navy, RNLI, London Ports Authority, BBC, London Fire Service and the Harbourmaster had all joined in; the Thames was closed to all other shipping for the event and as he went under the famous bridge the Thames Fire Ships sent triumphant fountains of water up into the air as he glided into land at the safety of HMS President.

The Paper Boat raised £1000s for Comic Relief, created an incredible story of eight days on the river and gained a following all over the world (the finish was globally televised). Tim received letters of support from such diverse people as a postman, a primary school class and H.M. Queen Elizabeth II. In recognition of his efforts Tim was offered Honorary Freedom of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames which necessitates him also being granted the Freedom of the City of London by redemption.

This wonderful adventure has been turned into a fascinating and often hilarious one-man show that has won plaudits all over the country. For the first time Tim is due to perform in Henley on Thames and to tell this extraordinary story, appropriately enough at the River & Rowing Museum on the evening of Tuesday 4 December.

Tickets are just £5 (£3 for Museum members) available from the Museum on 01491 415600 or email edbookings@rrm.co.uk More information about Tim Fitzhigham can be found at www.fitzhigham.com

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Notes to Editors and Public Information
The River & Rowing Museum attracts over 90,000 visitors a year and celebrates three themes:

 The past, present and future of the River Thames;
 The historic riverside community of Henley on Thames;
 The international sport of rowing.

These themes are explored through a wide variety of exhibitions and events across four galleries and special exhibitions. One the Museum's major success has been The Wind in the Willows exhibition which recreates the timeless E H Shepard illustrations from Kenneth Grahame's famous novel.

Since opening in August 1998 the Museum has received numerous awards for its design and architecture, including the National Heritage/NPI Museum of the Year award. The River & Rowing Museum is part of the Thames Valley Museums Group (TVMG) Family Friendly initiative - a scheme which brings together 29 museums across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to promote their popular appeal to the whole family

	Address The River & Rowing Museum, Mills Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1BF. Tel. 01491 415600. Web: www.rrm.co.uk
	The museum, terrace café and shop is open every day from 10am - 5.30pm in summer and 10am - 5pm in the winter
	Paid for tickets are valid for re-entry to the museum for 12 months
	Admission for The Wind in the Willows including the Galleries: £7 for adults, £5 for children and £6 for senior citizens and concessions
	Admission for the Museum Galleries: £3.50 for adults, £2.50 for children and £3 for senior citizens and concessions
	Free parking for visitors

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