The Boating Pond

Andrew Martin toasts five 'social phenomena' that are still with us - just.

It starts amidst the elegance of the Jardin du Luxembourg, where the author's sons potter about with model boats on the ornamental lake. This is charmingly anachronistic and will spark off searches for more ponds and model boats in the UK. Places such as Hampstead, Clapham, Southwold, where it's a small but enthusiastic pastime still.

Producer Duncan Minshull.