Disruptive Proactivity

The Official Invitation 2026

Please join us on the River Cam on the afternoon of Sunday 16th August for this year’s Puntcon, running from Cambridge to Grantchester Meadows and back again.

Please register via this form so we can book enough pre-paid punts. If you don’t register then you may need to hire your own punt and sort out your own deposit etc.  Bookings close at lunchtime on the 15th (the day before puntcon on the 16th August). Register your place in a punt at: https://forms.gle/A4fjW1T5hUgLUe6G6

Our Sponsor

This year Puntcon is sponsored by Working for an MP, the website for anyone with an interest in how Parliament works or working for a British Member of Parliament, and the home of w4mpjobs, the UK’s most popular political jobs listing site. See w4mp.org  and w4mpjobs.org for more.

Punt bookings are here. Bookings close at lunchtime the day before.

The details:

Joining Puntcon

We assemble on the area by the weir outside the Mill public house on Mill Lane between 1200 and 1230. 

(https://map.what3words.com/deck.jungle.junior)

Four or five people will be deputised as PUNTERS and will come with Sam and Bill to collect the boats, the others will walk up beyond the rollers where we board 

https://map.what3words.com/vibrate.galaxy.volume (See this useful post about What3Words from Terence) 

We will head off  between 1230 and 1300 – if you are late you can walk up river and catch us as we don’t punt very fast!  We will be heading upriver rather than along the Backs – more picnic places, fewer tourists. We normally stop half-way along Grantchester Meadows and hum Pink Floyd tunes.

Bring something to drink and something to eat. Actually, bring a lot to eat and a lot to drink – it’s thirsty work!

Note that there aren’t any toilets (but there are hedges) and the nearest pub/tea room is approx 20 min walk in Grantchester. All bushes are open to everyone however they identify, whatever their anatomy which we will not be checking.

What Happens?

If you have told us you’re coming – and only if –  then punts will be booked/organised/commandeered for you so you do not need to hire one. We will take as many punts as we need, usually  the big punts that hold 12 and head up river to a convenient picnic place on Grantchester Meadows where we will eat/drink/carouse. Bring games to play. Those arriving late can join us there.

Anyone can punt. Anyone can be shown how to punt. But you are not expected to punt. While we support the consumption of apples in all forms, please keep electronic devices in the punt and not in the river.

We will get back to Scudamores around 1800. Those heading back to the railway station can be dropped at a bridge within walking distance.

Post punting we have the option of retiring to the pub or a restaurant and letting Sunday evening happen around us.

How Much?

You are asked to contribute your share of the punt hire. There is no registration fee. Bring food and drink and entertainment. Punt fare will be split between all comers  –  it works out at £30 per person. Under 10s are not expected to contribute.

Who’s Coming?

Please feel free to invite other people – it’s a big river and there are lots of punts, but do ask them to sign up so we can book punts. The only and authoritative list used to book the right number of punts is this form so don’t just tell Mark Zuckerberg or some other cabal you plan to join us.

Please come along on 16th August 2026 — it is usually fun.

Cheers

@billt and @smithsam on sites that remain