Tony Norwell
Miscellaneous
Old Father Thames Is Tamed Today
Old Father Thames Is Tamed Today December 1984
Back in 1974 â work began to close the door â
To tides that could surge to London Town â
And flood our city so people drown.
So hereâs to those who worked away â
That Father Thames is tamed today,
That Father Thames is tamed today!
Hereâs to the people who worked so hard â
In sun and snow and night and day.
Our River can threaten us now no more â
Old Father Thames is tamed today,
Old Father Thames is tamed today!
In Woolwich Reach dredging began â
The south abutment and cofferdams â
And far below the river bed â
The mighty piers were concreted.
Five hundred main bearings from Massachusetts â
And Durham and Yorkshire built the main gates â
And Durham and Yorkshire built the main gates.
The sills were built and sunk in place;
Huge gates craned in to help the race.
To folk in England and Holland, too â
Austrians, Americans to name but few;
And hereâs to those who worked away â
That Father Thames is tamed today â
That Father Thames is tamed today!
And hereâs to those whose lives were lost â
For their loved ones will ever bear the cost â
Of making London safe for all â
That never more will people fall â
Victim to storm surges from Father Thames â
To those who died â thank each of them -
To those who died â thank each of them!
And now the machineryâs all installed â
Its power source â parts big and small.
Stainless steel on wood clad shells â
To protect the equipment and keep it well;
To help stop floods in Londonâs bower â
The gates can close in half an hour â
The gates can close in half an hour!