The straight mile of river near Thames Ditton Marina can seem very desolate. The wind can get very strong here and sometimes I found my float was actually going backwards, against the current.

I have swum and played in the Thames for many years, but the river can look deceptively benign. At times the current can be incredibly swift. It can also be cold - I once picked a warm spring day for a dip and misjudged the temperature - I gave myself a mild case of hypothermia and it took hours for me to stop shivering. And in some places it is almost impossible to get out, because of the steep banks.

Sometimes there are tragic deaths on the Thames; news of them travels quickly amongst the river community. I felt it was important to show the darker side of this picturesque river in some way.