First in line for River Pageant at Tower Bridge

01/01

Caption

Waiting for the vessels of the River Pageant to pass by.

Margarita Soulsby, now of Dorset, in her position with 24 hours to go before the first vessels are expected to reach Tower Bridge at the end of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant. She plans to spend the night in place. Security permitting.

A Londoner who has travelled up from her home in Dorset takes her place in the lee of Tower Bridge waiting for the boats and ships of all shapes and sizes and purpose to pass by for the Queen's River Pageant.

There are 24 hours still to go as Margarita Soulsby sits in her Union Jack folding chair on the aptly named Queen's Walk.

She is alone.

There are, of course, hundreds of people, local and tourists, sitting in the sun and walking by. No one but Margarita is planning to spend the night like her in her spot. She, for now, is the lone camper.

She explains that the pageant office security is not happy for her to stay and that the walkway at Potter's Field near the GLA is to be closed off and she expects to be moved. Not far just outside the temporary gates, explains Margarita. That's where she'll pitch another camp until she's allowed back inside. At least that's the plan. Ms Soulsby may still be excluded for want of vetting and a ticket.

For now she studies her new camera intently.

When she sits her view of the river is closed off by meshed barriers put up to hold back the crowds.

All she can see is two foot in front of her. The water, the bridge, the Gherkin and the Tower are all obscured by stone and metal railings. Let's hope tomorrow will bring her a better view.