Picture the summer in Henley and you think regatta and festival, blazers and boaters.

But moored in the wake of these two seasonal super-tankers, and bobbing about making waves of its own, is the Thames Traditional Boat Festival.

This is where you’ll find boaters of the more literal variety, where, for three days, enthusiasts will tie up at Fawley Meadows to put on a display of traditionally made wooden boats stretching as far as the eye can see.

It’s a get-together which after 45 years is now the largest gathering of traditional river craft the world has seen.

In years gone by it might have been the smaller sister to its superstar siblings where diehards dressed in Edwardian costume to celebrate messing about in boats Jerome K Jerome style. But no longer. Now crewed by a dynamic committee of devotees, skippered by the redoubtable Lady McAlpine, the “Trad” has risen to the surface as the biggest and the best there is.

The packed programme for this year is enough to make you keel over. There are amphibious and military vehicles, a flypast by the Great War display team of the Battle of Britain Flight, Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancaster bombers, classic cars and bicycles, steamboats and traction engines.

There are dog shows and dress shops, rock bands and boogieing, camp sites, a food court and Crooked Billet pop-up pub, not to mention the boat builders who will be there to demonstrate that their traditional craftsmanship is alive and well and more than keeping its head above water. Fleets of volunteers are called on every year to ensure the Trad goes swimmingly.

The plan now, says committee member Paul Owen, is for it to continue to grow and be acknowledged in Henley as the thriving festival it is.

“Every year we try to offer something new,” says Paul, “and every night is party night with spectacular bands and a dance floor.

“That said, while growing, it must maintain its core values around being a friendly, laidback festival with traditional boats at its heart."

“There are eight of us on the committee, led by Lady McAlpine and Adam Toop, plus lots of volunteers but we always need more."

“There are loads of jobs to do and we are always on the lookout for more volunteers to both help set up the event and then run the three days.”

Paul grew up in Goring and became one of the Trad team after a lifetime on the water, starting to volunteer at just 17 when he was already a keen canoeist. He says: “My brother and I were very active canoeists and through my involvement with the Air Training Corps I became involved with the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race and the race and its community mean a great deal to me."

“One of Britain’s hidden sporting gems, I was publicity officer for the race for many years before becoming chief executive of British Canoeing."

“I met my wife Tamsin through the race and have enjoyed supporting her on the event — she has been one of the most successful women, winning the race three times.” Paul is also an ambassador for the British Inspiration Trust, which works to improve young adults’ mental health by focusing on fitness.

He says: “The BRIT ambassador family is comprised of Olympians, Paralympians, sports personalities, adventurers and explorers who are uniting to support and improve young adult mental health throughout the UK.

“There are well over 500 universities and colleges involved in the UK and our aspiration is to deliver inspiration to the young adults and students at every institution that participates in our annual BRIT challenges. It is a great honour to have been involved in something like nine Olympic Games and three Commonwealth Games.