How Technology Is Saving Lives On The Thames
A talk on how advances in boat design is helping local RNLI
Chiswick RNLI has been in the news recently, saving the life of a toddler and mother in the river Thames near Isleworth, maintaining their record of being one of the busiest stations in the country.
Chiswick Pier Trust is hosting a talk on Tuesday, February 26th at 7.30 pm when Holly Phillips, the RNLI's Principal Naval Architect, based in Poole, is coming to give a talk on developments in boat design and engineering.
She will be joined by Chiswick RNLI station manager, Wayne Bellamy, who has first hand experience of how new technology can deliver quicker responses on the river. The evening will include a summary of how their boats are designed and constructed and there will also be examples of when things don't go quite according to plan!
And they will take a more detailed look at two of their new boat designs, FCB2, the Mersey replacement, soon to be called the 'Shannon' class and the E-Class Mk2 that operates on the River Thames.
Although The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is best known as the charity that saves lives at sea, of course among their 236 lifeboat stations, there are now four along the River Thames, including our station at Chiswick Pier. The RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The Pier House doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start and the talk is free to members, £3 to non-members and all takings on the door will be donated to the RNLI, a totally self-funded charity. The CPT has also organised a discount for ticket holders at the bar in Pissarro's after the talk. To find out more about Chiswick RNLI and their recent shouts, please click here http://www.chiswicklifeboat.org.uk/.
Chiswick Pier and Chiswick Pier House are at the end of Corney Road and Edensor Road, Chiswick, W4 2UG. The talk is part of a series organised by the Chiswick Pier Trust, a charity that puts people in touch with the River Thames. For further information on the Pier and how to get there, contact the Chiswick Pier Trust 020 8742 2713 or log on at www.chiswickpier.org.uk .
Other forthcoming events include: Sunday March 10th, Mothering Day Cruise. Treat Mum to a ride on the river with optional meal at Pissarro’s.
Tuesday March 19th, 7.30pm. “The River Thames - Would you drink it?". A talk on the pumping station at Kew Bridge: why it was built there, why it is still there and what is its future?
Sunday March 31st, 4.30pm. The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.
April, date tbc. The popular annual guided bird walk with ornithologist Keith Martin.
Sunday July 28th, Party on the Pier. Chiswick Pier Trust’s annual party celebrating the Thames with stalls, children’s entertainment, a barbecue, Fuller’s bar and live band.
The Pier House office is open on Monday to Friday from 11am to 3pm.
February 13, 2013