Pimms and Punting on the Lower River front at St Johns

Punting on the River Cam

Tuesday 21st July, 19.00 - St John's College Riverfront 19.00

IMPS 2009 delegates enjoyed one of Cambridge’s favourite pastimes -  Pimms and strawberries on the lower river front lawn and punting on the river Cam. Punts were ‘chauffeured’ enabling participants to sit back, relax in style and take in the sights of the College backs – an opportunity to see, and photograph, some of the most iconic views of Cambridge which have featured in many films and TV series.

Just in case you're foxed by our terminology:

  • ‘A punt is a square-ended boat which has a flat bottom with no keel and is usually propelled using a long pole: just using a paddle to move along doesn't count! Punts were developed in Medieval times to provide stable craft which could be used in areas of water too shallow for rowing conventional craft.’
     
  • ‘Pimms is a gin-based drink flavoured with liqueurs, fruit and spices which, properly made, looks like a drinkable garden in a glass. It’s seen as typically English and features at Summer sporting events such as Wimbledon tennis, Henley Rowing Regatta and the summer Royal Ascot horse racing meeting.’

Just to complete the atmosphere Rebecca Applin, the Cambridge harpist, provided the perfect aural backdrop to your fluvial adventures!

It was a perfect opportunity to network, make friends, carry on discussions, relax after challenging conference sessions or imagine you’re a character in Brideshead Revisited.