Police Called as Boat Club Row Escalates
'Major confrontation' at Ferry Quays as more equipment is removed
A police car on hand to monitor events at Ferry Quays this week. Picture: Guy Lambert
January 23, 2026
The ongoing dispute between organisations operating at Brentford Community Boat House escalated this week after police were called to Ferry Quays during the removal of equipment from the site.
Officers attended on Tuesday evening (20 January) following what witnesses described as a ‘major confrontation’ between representatives of Team Keane Ltd and volunteers from Brentford Boat Club. Police remained on site to keep the peace while further items were taken from the premises.
The incident follows action taken on Friday 16 January, when Paul Keane of Team Keane Ltd removed the pontoon used by Brentford Boat Club’s junior rowers. The club says the removal prevented around 90 young people from training on the water over the weekend. Rowing machines used for indoor training were also taken from the gym at Pump Alley.
Parent volunteers say they were able to continue sessions after borrowing equipment but described the disruption as significant.
Brentford Boat Club, which describes itself as a parent-run charity providing rowing opportunities for state-school pupils, says it pays racking fees and rent to Brentford Community Boat House for use of the pontoon and gym and is up to date with its payments. The club says it is now fundraising for a replacement pontoon and has received offers of loaned boats from other Thames-based clubs.
The pontoon being towed away from Ferry Quays last Friday
The pontoon was deposited in two pieces on Lots Ait
In a statement, the club said it remained “determined to continue giving local state school kids the opportunity to row” and was working to replace equipment that had been removed.
Paul Keane did not respond to specific questions about rent, racking fees or the reasons for the removal of the pontoon, but said he was concerned about “malicious and unsubstantiated claims” being made about him and organisations he works with. He said he had acted “compliantly and transparently” during four years of delivering projects in Brentford and that accounts could demonstrate that neither he nor his wife had taken inappropriate payments.
Mr Keane maintains that the equipment removed from the site belongs either to him personally or to charities he leads, not to Brentford Boat Club. He also said he was aware of allegations being circulated by former members of Team Keane now involved with rowing clubs in Chiswick. He described them as unfounded and potentially damaging.
Mr Keane said he would welcome the opportunity to present evidence to counter the allegations and noted that he continues to run children’s activities in Brentford.
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