A photo of Henry Tribe by Martin Parr. This photo was displayed on hoardings around Cambridge's Grand Arcade shopping centre.

Henry Tribe

When the River Cam Froze Over


Some winters, a little ice forms on the River Cam that flows through Cambridge. However there are only two years in the last century when the Cam has frozen over solidly enough to allow people to walk and skate on the river: 1929 and 1953.

Anecdotally, Henry skated to Granchester during the 1953 freeze – he had learnt to skate during his year in Canada. Unfortunately there are no photographs of this, and there are no letters to his parents or brother during this period. However Henry did take a number of transparencies of the frozen Cam and these are reproduced below.

Upstream of the Mill Pond

Skating on the River Cam upstream of Mill Bridge, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.
Ducks on the frozen River Cam by Mill Bridge. January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.

The Mill Pond

The Mill Pond, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.
The Mill Pond from under Silver Street Bridge, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.

King’s College Bridge

The frozen River Cam under King's College Bridge, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.

King’s College Bridge to Clare Bridge

Frozen River Cam in front of King's College, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.
Walking on the River Cam in front of King's College, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.
On the frozen River Cam in front of King's College, looking towards Clare Bridge. January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.

Garret Hostel Bridge

Frozen River Cam at Garret Hostel Bridge, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.
Frozen River Cam at Garret Hostel Bridge, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.
Skating on the River Cam under Garret Hostel Bridge, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.

Trinity Bridge

Frozen River Cam at Trinity Bridge, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.

Trinity Bridge to Kitchen Bridge

The frozen River Cam with St John's College in the background, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.
Ice Hockey on the River Cam, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.
Ice Hockey on the River Cam, January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.

Bridge of Sighs

Frozen River Cam under the Bridge of Sighs. January 1963. Photo: Henry Tribe.



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