Displaying the newest Shannon all-weather lifeboat

Volunteers from Chiswick RNLI and beach lifeguards from Kent marched through the streets of London alongside the charity’s Shannon class lifeboat on Saturday 14 November, in the 800th anniversary of the Lord Mayor’s Show.

Stormy, the RNLI mascot

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) newest all-weather Shannon class lifeboat lead volunteers through the capital amongst the 155 floats which took part in the traditional procession held on Saturday 14 November.

Volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew from Teddington, Chiswick, Tower and Gravesend paraded through the capital alongside the charity’s lifeguards and fundraisers to raise awareness of the RNLI’s London lifeboats, which operate a 24/7 search and rescue service on the River Thames.

One of six crew and supporters from Chiswick lifeboat station, helmsman Mark Turrell commented: ‘It was a privilege to take part in this historic parade. The response we had from the crowds lining the route, was outstanding. We all enjoyed the walk despite the heavy rain and wearing our full lifeboat kit, we were completely protected from the heavy rain.’

City goers watched in awe as the RNLI’s state of the art Shannon class lifeboat passed through the streets of the City of London during the procession. Earlier in the day, E class lifeboats from Tower and Chiswick escorted the new Lord Mayor along the River Thames as he travelled downstream towards Mansion House in QRB Gloriana during the river pageant.

Last year, London lifeboat crews from Teddington, Chiswick and Tower rescued a total of 231 people, which is enough to fill around two-and-a-half of the capital’s iconic double-decker buses - and they saved 27 lives on the River Thames.

November 20, 2015