The Summer Cruise is a bienniel event that enables members to enjoy a relaxed summer evening while cruising the River Thames between the Barrier and Chelsea. This year's cruise was scheduled for Saturday 28 August 2004 and the Mercia was chartered.

Unfortunately, the timing of this year's cruise coincided with the worst floods in Bangladesh in recent memory - with about two-thirds of Bangladesh being under water. There were expected to be shortages of food and medicine, and possibly an outbreak of cholera. Our thoughts were with family, friends, and fellow folks in our ancestral homeland.

BBPA members decided to continue with the cruise as scheduled, but pledged to donate all profits from the event to flood relief projects.

On the day, a sum of £1026 was raised for the flood appeal. This included a charity auction for a weekend stay at the Intercontinental Hotel Hyde Park generously donated by a member, raffles, and personal pledges by members.