I’m going to be along the Reading-up-to-Oxford stretch of the Thames for a few days in early June. I was thinking about some sort of boating trip along the river. It has to be appropriate for the sedentary - my mother will be with me and she’s 72.
We have family roots in the village of Moulsford, between Cholsey and Streatley. I understand that to be one of the nicest stretches. Are there others?
Any suggestions from local Brits or others who have visited the area would be most welcome.
Went on a barge (okay, riverboat) trip for a week with my mother and brother along that stretch when I was a young’un.
You don’t have to be particularly strong to pull the boat up with the mooring lines; I did it by myself (although the river wasn’t flowing fast at all). Driving a riverboat is extremely easy. I did it by myself for hours at a time.
Locks can be tricky; I’d advise you to have two other able-bodied souls with you for them, although IIRC they aren’t necessary. Winding holes (open areas on the river which you can turn around in) can be tricky too; I got us beached in one, and it took almost a half-hour of poling to get the boat moving again.
Of course, if you were planning of a cabin cruiser, disregard.
This looks like a good place to start: http://www.waterscape.com/waterwaysguide/regions/SouthernEngland.html?hp=24
I’ve done a similar day-long trip on the Norfolk Broads - it’s highly recommended for a sedentary relative 
You should be able to plan a trip around the Thames that doesn’t involved locks, if that seems like a problem.
There were (I assume still are) organised boat trips from Caversham (Reading) along the Thames. The ones I used had refreshments and were eminently suitable for all ages. There are others, and here’s a site giving some useful links.
If you want a (very expensive) treat, you can have dinner on Rosamund the Fair. It’s a combo restaurant/3 hour cruise that’s in Banbury.
These have been very helpful links, folks… thank you for the information.