Someday when peace has returned to this odd world I want to come to London again and stand on a certain balcony on a moonlit night and look down upon the peaceful silver curve of the Thames with its dark bridges.

You absorb 2,000 years of history just by being near the Thames.

The Thames is liquid history.

But if people want to swim in the Thames, if they want to take their lives into their own hands, then they should be able to do so with all the freedom and exhilaration of our woad-painted ancestors.

Because of the Thames I have always loved inland waterways - water in general water sounds - there's music in water. Brooks babbling fountains splashing. Weirs waterfalls tumbling gushing.

But if people want to swim in the Thames if they want to take their lives into their own hands then they should be able to do so with all the freedom and exhilaration of our woad-painted ancestors.