Extinction Rebellion protest on first day of Henley Regatta

Wearing poo emoji costumes, the climate activists waved down to the regatta enclosure where people were at the finish line below during yesterday's races (June 27).  

They also paraded through the town centre, busy with visitors attending one of the largest events in the rowing calendar.

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Dr Lin Rolfe, 68, a retired biologist and grandmother from Wallingford said: “This protest is part of our on-going campaign to draw attention to the government’s failure to protect our waterways from pollution, failure to protect wildlife and failure to protect public health.” 

Kate Fenn, 56, an NHS worker from Benson said: “The support we have received today demonstrates the strength of public opinion. 

“People are becoming more aware of what the water companies have been getting up to since privatization and they’ve had enough.

“ We need everyone who cares about our rivers and seas to stand up and speak out. We demand immediate action by the government and the water companies.

“If we don’t put pressure on them, they’ll get away with it.

“Today was just the part of a wider campaign to protect nature and our waterways. Look out for further campaigning events in your local area!”

This comes as the government is reportedly drawing up contingency plans for the emergency nationalisation of Thames Water as concerns grow over its mammoth £14 billion debt pile.

It comes after Thames Water chief executive Sarah Bentley stepped down with immediate effect yesterday (June 27) amid mounting worries over the financial stability of the firm.

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Thames Water is the UK’s biggest water supplier and provides water services for 15 million people in London and the South East.

Owned by a consortium of pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, the company has come under pressure in recent years over its poor performance in tackling leaks and sewage contamination, while facing criticism for handing out big rewards to top bosses and shareholders.

Raw sewage discharge into rivers has become a problem for the firm throughout Oxfordshire with repeated discharges from sewage works in Oxford, Witney, and Wallingford, among others.

Ms Bentley, who was appointed in 2020, said in May that she would give up her bonus after the company’s environmental and customer performance suffered.

But even after giving up the bonus, the chief executive managed to double her pay, raking in £1.5 million.

On announcing her departure, she said: “The foundations of the turnaround that we have laid position the company for future success to improve service for customers and environmental performance.”