TV star goes with flow

8:09am Tuesday 8th May 2007

Comments (0)   Have your say »

The actor who played disgraced Oxford tycoon Robert Maxwell in a BBC drama, returned to the city today to launch a celebration of its watery heritage.

David Suchet, best known for his role as detective Hercule Poirot, opened the Go With The Flow festival at Donnington Bridge.

He was joined by scores of boatmen in 57 vessels - ranging from a Venetian gondola to a 19th century steam launch, His visit came just three days after his appearance in Maxwell on BBC TV on Friday.

The 61-year-old actor said he thought the former Oxford United chairman was a more complex man than many people believed.

He added: "What I tried to show, in a very short period of time, was the various dimensions of a human being.

"He was an extremely generous man. He used to say famously he could never say no - and he gave millions of pounds away to charity.

"I tried to show a mixture of his internal vulnerability as well as his bullying and bull-headed role."

Mr Suchet, who lives in London, said he was a regular visitor to Oxford, and had his current boat, a Dutch barge, kitted out at John Salter's Boatyard, at Folly Bridge.

He opened the festival in his role as chairman of the River Thames Alliance, an organisation set up by the Environment Agency to promote the waterway.

Mr Suchet said: "This is the most wonderful area for water.

"The Oxford Canal is to me one of the most beautiful canals and the Thames around here is just magnificent."

The festival saw a colourful procession of boats from Folly Bridge to Iffley Lock, followed by boat racing, fishing, angling, music, and refreshments.

The event was organised by Oxford author Alex Martin as part of the Oxfordshire 2007 county millennium celebrations.

Mr Martin said: "We have a Glasgow lifeboat, canoes from Bangladesh, a Venetian gondola, kayaks, a steam launch from 1898 and a reproduction of a 17th century shallop.

"The waterways are wonderful opportunities for sailing and kayaking and canoeing, getting into boats and enjoying the water."

Oxfordshire County Council chairman Liz Brighouse sailed down the river on the Consuta, a 51ft wooden steam launch built in 1898.

She said: "It was wonderful. It's amazing that the boat is well over 100 years old. The river and the waterways are very much part of Oxfordshire's culture and heritage."

Rain in the morning did not deter crowds of onlookers who gathered along the towpath and on bridges.

Liz and Mike Berg, from Headington, were among hundreds of people watching the procession at Donnington Bridge.

Mrs Berg, 59, said: "It's lovely to see. It's nice that something like this goes ahead for the community to come to."