RIVER THAMES LIFEBOAT STATIONS
RIVER THAMES LIFEBOAT STATIONS
Celebrates 20 years By David Clarke, former lifeboat crew member at Chiswick station
This year Chiswick RNLI and the other three Thames lifeboat stations celebrate 20 years of search and rescue on the tidal river. The stations at Chiswick and Tower Bridge are now the busiest lifeboat stations in the whole of the UK and Ireland, but it took a major disaster for the need for an emergency service on the river to be realised. The judge in the inquiry into the tragic sinking of the Marchioness where 51 people drowned, recommended that the tidal Thames needed a dedicated search and rescue service. The RNLI stepped in and established four lifeboat stations which became operational on 2 January 2002. Three of these, including Chiswick, have crew on standby 24/7.
Alongside the operational side Chiswick RNLI reaches out to the community with education and fund-raising volunteers. Thousands of children have learnt about the RNLI from school visits and visits to the station where the duty crew demonstrate the capabilities of their craft. A fund-raising comedy night at the George IV is now an annual event (with Covid exception in 2021). This year it is on Tuesday 15th March at Headliners Comedy Club in the Boston Room of George IV, 185 Chiswick High Rd. (Tickets on Eventbrite). We also have a stall at the Chiswick House Dog Show each September. Many local businesses have supported the comedy nights and regular talks.
No one anticipated how busy the Thames stations would be. Altogether 4,308 people have been rescued and 622 lives saved.
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