INTERNATIONAL POOHSTICKS COMPETITION ON THE RIVER THAMES, NEAR DORCHESTER

The World Poohsticks Championships are held on the Thames at Long Wittenham near Dorchester, just a few miles downstream from Oxford.

Winnie the Pooh, a favourite of character of mine since childhood, was written by A.A. Milne and was set loosely in Ashdown Forest in Kent, many miles from here. But no matter, it's all for charity, and it's a great family occasion, with people from all over the world dropping their sticks (red, yellow, blue or white) from one of two bridges into the Thames.

Then they rush across to the other side of the bridge to see which stick passes a blue rope first! Great fun.