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CHISWICK LIFEBOAT NAMED "CHELSEA PENSIONER"
Joy Baker, RNLI senior area organiser says, ‘A number of the pensioners have been regular collectors for the RNLI at boat shows in London and Southampton for more than 25 years and also regularly help on London Lifeboat Day and other major events. The E class lifeboat is being named in recognition of their continuous and valuable support." The lifeboat has been funded from the generous bequest of Dr. Patricia Mary Martyn Baguley of High Lorton, Near Cockermouth. Chelsea Pensioner is one of several lifeboats based at four RNLI lifeboat stations located along the Thames since 2 January 2002. The lifeboat stations were set up at the request of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, following a review of the Marchioness tragedy, to provide a search and rescue service to any point on the tidal part of the Thames. Watching
the naming ceremony will be the lifeboat crew,
who are a mix of full-time employees and volunteers
coming from all walks of life including policeman,
doctors, bankers, brokers, IT specialists and
firemen. Staff and pensioners from The Royal
Hospital, Chelsea, who have contributed to
the RNLI, will also view proceedings. |
The
second of the Thames lifeboats based at Chiswick
has been officially named at a ceremony at
The Royal Hospital, Chelsea. The E class lifeboat,
stationed at Chiswick, will be named Chelsea
Pensioner. General Sir Jeremy Mackenzie GCB
OBE, Governor of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea,
handed over the lifeboat to the RNLI on behalf
of the Chelsea pensioners. It was accepted
on behalf of Chiswick station by Wayne Bellamy
the station manager. The boat was officially
named by Bert Spurdin a Chelsea pensioner resident
at the Hospital.