Marc West dons his boater and blazer and joins Oxfordshire’s high society by the Thames for Henley’s Royal Regatta

From flowers to flat racing, art to opera, the Season defined the British summer.

Initially focused on 17th century London, it gradually expanded to encompass a 70-mile radius around the capital - including Glyndebourne and Glorious Goodwood, Royal Ascot and Cowes. The pillars of this great institution began as sporting events to entertain the upper classes, but soon attracted interested locals to become social spectacles for all. With that dichotomy in mind, this mere commoner went to witness the hifalutin fun and frolics on the water at Henley Regatta.

It’s clear the Steward’s Enclosure is the place to be, but as there’s no way riff-raff like me would be permitted, I decide to exercise my right of way along the Thames Path for the one mile and 550 yards downstream from Henley Bridge to the start line at Temple Island. The banks either side are lined with technicolour blazers and all manner of headwear. Trying to observe the event’s strict etiquette is a minefield for fashion faux-pas. A boater may be a quirky accessory, but is also a necessity against the glaring sun. However, I still can’t take a man in a salmon pink shirt seriously. Such is the peacock-ing, one could almost forget that 526 crews from across the globe have actually come to demonstrate their sporting rather than sartorial prowess.

Purely watching the intense action was enough to make me sweat, so I decided it was about time for that obligatory glass of Pimm’s and to kick off my boaters, roll up my chinos (even further above my bare ‘mankles’) and give my feet a dip in the cooling water while listening to jazz drifting on the breeze.

Messing about on the river couldn’t be more quintessentially British, and, to the casual observer, it may all seem rather daft. But, that element of fun is what’s kept all strata of society coming back for 176 years to date.

Of course, the crews take it much more seriously and competition in this prestigious event is fierce.

This year was a record breaking weekend in more ways than one. Despite the mercury hitting all-time highs, times on the water were getting lower - and, no doubt, engravers hot under the collar as they updated all that wonderful silverware.

Despite the pretence and prestige, Henley is lots of fun. Crucially, it’s open to everyone. It’s managed to tread the fine line between tradition and changing social attitudes – having upped it’s game by introducing street food, craft beers and cutting-edge music to entertain future generations of movers, shakers and oiks alike.

* The Season continues to reflect where the money and power is.

So, today’s bright young things are as likely to be hanging out at Wilderness festival as Wimbledon.

Cool kids flock to - Oxfordshire’s (other) place to see and be seen – Lady Rotherwick’s vast Cornbury estate every September in their droves to twerk the night away to the likes of hip Icelandic popsicle Bjork and nosh on fine food from top chefs such as Raymond Blanc.

To make sure you’re in with the in crowd visit wildernessfestival.com