Our Annual Stakeholder Forum is due to take place at the Four Seasons Hotel, 10 Trinity Square, London on 9 May.

The PLA’s equivalent to an annual general meeting is open to anyone and will be hosted by our chairman Christopher Rodrigues CBE. It will include updates by CEO Robin Mortimer on 2016 river highlights

and from chief harbour master Bob Baker who will speak about navigational safety developments. We close the formal session with a Q&A chaired by Christopher Rodrigues. Afterwards, the Board and other members of the PLA team will be available for an informal chat over refreshments. The Forum is being held in the

historic former PLA headquarters
which recently opened as a
hotel. It starts at 1.30 pm, with refreshments available from 1.00 pm.

A long-serving pilot, who was
made an MBE, was able to update
the Queen about the comings and
goings on the tidal Thames –
during the award ceremony.

Don Cockrill, 62, who’s worked at
the PLA for 26 years, accepted his
gong from Her Majesty who took time
out to quiz him about London’s river.

Don said: “It truly was an awesome
day out, a very grand occasion.”

“When it came to my turn to
receive my MBE the Queen stopped
and asked me ‘Pilots…something
to do with ships isn’t it?

“I replied that I was actually a pilot
on the River Thames which greatly
intrigued her.” She said: ‘How
interesting, the Thames. Tell me,
do they still have ships stopping
at Tilbury?”

Quick-thinking Don, who’s
also secretary general of the UK
Maritime Pilots’ Association,
confirmed that the Port of London
is in rude health and even
managed to tell the monarch a little

about the success of both Tilbury
andDP World London Gateway.

He added: “It was incredible getting the chance to meet her. It’s unbelievable, to say the least, that she’s still working so hard and
she’s not getting any younger.”
Don took wife Wendy along for the palace visit last month, as well as
his son and daughter.

He first got wind of the award after receiving a letter in a “high-quality

envelope” back in November last year.

“I’m used to getting letters from government departments,” he said. “But I’d never been sent one by the Cabinet Office. My wife saw it and asked ‘What’s this then?’ And I joked that maybe I’m getting an MBE. It nearly knocked me for six when I found out I actually was. It’s a tremendous honour for me and I’m proud to have been nominated.”