Rnli Thames

We all think of the RNLI on the waters around our coasts, recuing boats, ships ans swimmers in trouble in storms, rips or collisions. Not so many of us are aware of the work they do on The Thames.
The River Thames is fast flowing, rather dirty and a very busy waterway. If a small vessel, invidual or a big vessel gets into distress, it is vital that the swiftest action and most highly skilled teams work to rescue and keep safety standards high.
All the crews along the Thames are trained in Poole at the RNLI headquarters, where every other crew member in the country is trained.
The only difference between the sea going life boats and those on the river, is that on the Thames the boats are faster ad have jet engines. It is vital to have speed in order to rescue a vessel or person in this busy waterway.
The main stations are at Twickenham, Chiswick and Gravesend, with many in between. If you are near a lifeboat station, you will often see them pacticing their drills and skills. Many staff are paid, but even more are volunteers.
All boating on the river, where possible, will cooperate in rescuing. A lady who had fallen off Waterloo bridge was ‘sheltered’ between two pleasure boats until the RNLI boat was able to pull her from the water. But such scenerios are not always possible, and this is why London has the fastest boats which can turn in their own length, move sideways and are slender enough to get between other vessels.
Some of the volunteers are arm– bearing policemen, lawyers,
medics, as well as men and women in less stressful jobs.
Spare them a thought.