Leading UK infrastructure provider and engineering consultancy Amey is taking to the water with Putney High School GDST to draw attention to the importance of cleaning up the River Thames. Amey have sponsored a quad scull for the school’s Boat Club which rows from the Tideway, a famous stretch of the river at Putney Bridge.

Putney High School has been synonymous with the Thames at Putney Bridge since the school was founded over 125 years ago. With a proud rowing tradition generations of young women have been taking to the water, with many national champions among them.

Amey’s sponsorship has provided the school with a high specification Filippi quad scull, similar to the boats rowed by teams at the World Championships and Olympics.

Paul Reedy (pictured far right), Putney’s Director of Performance explained, “We aspire to be amongst the top schools in rowing and having equipment of this standard puts us at the start line with the best schools in the country.”

Putney students are not only keen sportswomen, they are also passionate environmentalists with an acute awareness of the importance of keeping the river clean and healthy. The Putney Boat Club has been active in publicising the need for new infrastructure to clean up the river and has for many years taken part in litter picks along its banks.

“Through this sponsorship Amey are not only keeping the river cleaner but providing the boat to keep our rowers safer and faster on it!” Mr Reedy explained.

The collaboration with Amey comes at an ideal time, as the systems integrator for the Thames Tideway Tunnel has just completed their ambitious project. The project, a new super sewer system for London, aims to ensure the River Thames remains clean for use for at least another 120 years, reducing the amount of sewage overflows to four per year, down from 50.

Pete Brewer, Putney’s Head of Rowing, who has on occasion been lucky enough to spot dolphins in the river, said, “It is our privilege to be on the river and have access to the Putney Boathouse, but the water should be clean and clear for all users to enjoy, and to protect wildlife.”

Experts say that Amey’s super-sewer should serve London for the next 120 years. Putney High School Boat Club looks forward to racing on it for at least that long!