AN unusual entertainment spectacle took place on the Severn at Worcester this week 100 years ago.

The Journal of 1903 reported the event under the heading "Queer Craft on the River".

"An extremely clever exhibition of log-rolling took place on the Severn on Thursday afternoon when the champion log-roller of the world, Mr Tom Barton, gave a wonderful performance under the auspices of Bovril Limited.

"Mr Barton, who is a native of Putney, has spent much of his life among Canadian lumbermen and is adept in their favourite sport.

Spare, well-knit and muscular, he combines with an iron nerve the agility of a cat.

"The 'log' consists of nine Bovril tins soldered together and forming a hollow cylinder, nine feet by one and weighing only 19 pounds. On this tricky craft, Mr Barton adopts any position, standing, sitting or lying prostrate, with almost equal ease.

"With rare skill he balances a chair on the 'log', calls for a table, a cigar and a huge bottle of Bovril, and regales himself in lordly fashion.

"His most showy trick is perhaps standing on the chair seat and waving flags.

"His adventurous voyage commenced at the top of Pitchcroft and, escorted by a small boat and a steamer with officials on board, Barton drifted rapidly downstream.

"He was never in difficulties and almost made the saying 'easy as falling off a log' difficult to understand.

"His progress down the river was watched by large crowds, many of whom ran along the bank to swell the masses of people on the bridge and quays who watched the performance with keen interest and joined in the applause which greeted the adventurer on his return to land. Admirable order was preserved by the police on the crowded quays."