One thousand boats will sail down the Thames on June 3rd, 2012, as part of the celebrations of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. And Herefordshire is making a replica of a River Wye Trow, under the direction of the Captain of Ross Rowing Club, Jeremy Picton-Tubervill, to take part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

A trow was a working vessel in the 18th and 19th centuries which used to transport goods such as coal and wood from the Forest of Dean as well as cider and wool. The timber for the trow has all been sourced from Herefordshire's Foxley and Garnons estates and is currently being built by Nielsens of Gloucester, one of the few boat builders in the country which specialise in this type of work.

The Herefordshire Trow is to be named the Herefordshire Bull, even though boats are usually female. It is set to be finished in spring in time for it to be tested before it carries the Lord Lieutenant of the county, Lady Darnley, and about 13 other people including the crew along the Thames.

Bob Tabor, who is on the Herefordshire Diamond day organising committee and is overseeing the trow project said:?"Once the celebrations are over, the trow will be used for education, tourism and art in various locations across the county to highlight Herefordshire's heritage, so it'll be a lasting legacy of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations."