The beautiful varnished boats are works of art in themselves, but Dittons Skiff and Punting Club, in its centenary year, is very much an active sporting enterprise.

Based next to The Albany pub in Thames Ditton, its purpose-built clubhouse, gym and boathouse is the envy of other Thames outfits as a new season on the river gets underway.

The heavy rains of winter limited boating, but now that river conditions are better a series of taster evenings offer locals a chance to experience healthy, sporting activity for themselves, regardless of age, fitness or gender.

“It’s great for core fitness, and we have active members in their upper 80s,” said vice-captain Guy Hanscomb.

Skiffing and punting are great ways to get out on to an iconic stretch of Thames between Hampton Court and Kingston bridges, while the clubhouse’s bar, lawn and terrace are excellent summer vantage points.

To mark its 100^th anniversary, the club staged a historic flotilla of 24 traditional skiffs and punts. Now it’s keen to attract newcomers, including juniors.

Pop by any Thursday from May 16 at 6.30pm to have a go, with guidance from the more experienced of the 150 members, or find out more at dittons.org.uk or Instagram @dittonsskiffpunting

Some of the craft in the club’s impressive fleet date back a century, with the cedar and hardwood historic hand-crafted skiffs and punts the largest collection of any comparable club.

DSPC also takes part in regattas, with punting summer-focused and skiffing all year round. It also competes in the annual 21-mile Great River Race – London’s river marathon – from Millwall to Ham, through some of the most scenic parts of the capital.