A MAN who is single-handedly rowing the river Thames from spring to sea in a prehistoric boat came through the borough this week, carrying a magic egg.

Ecological artist Chris Park (pictured above), also known as the Coracle Oracle, embarked on his unique 190-mile pilgrimage for peace in Oxfordshire on August 17.

He stopped at the riverfronts in Teddington and Richmond earlier this week and said: "The waterways pass through all kinds of communities and I hope many will be inspired to come and greet the magic egg."

At each stop Chris tells stories, plays music and invites blessings from anyone who wishes to share them. The egg carries the prayers, wishes and thoughts of all those who meet it at the water's edge during the voyage.

Born in Henley and raised in High Wycombe, the 32-year-old believes water should be celebrated "as a unifying bond between all races, creatures and creeds, nourishing all and rejecting none".

Coracles are prehistoric craft made traditionally from animal skins stretched over a wooden frame.

The craft for this pilgrimage was made from willow and horsehide cured in salt.

Visit www.acorneducation.com/story telling to read Chris' online journal entries, in which many of the borough's riverside landmarks feature.