When she witnesses real life rescue on visit to Chiswick Lifeboat station
Hammersmith & Fulham's new Mayor, Cllr Adronie Alford, certainly got more than she bargained for when she paid a routine mayoral visit to Chiswick Lifeboat Station.
Not only did the Mayor set sail on the Thames, complete with her official chains and a lifejacket, but she also witnessed a real life rescue!
Cllr Adronie Alford was named the new Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham on May 26 and chose the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) as her Mayoral charity.
To show her respect for the work that RNLI does, the Mayor paid a visit to borough’s closest lifeboat station in Chiswick.
Cllr Alford said: “I have enormous respect for the RNLI and was keen to visit Chiswick to put my appreciation on record. I was delighted to be taken on the river by the lifeboats but when we returned back to shore I was horrified to spot two youngsters waving their arms furiously in our direction.
“It was clear that the couple had ran out of petrol and with their boat drifting, the lifeboat was forced to go to the rescue. With me back on terra firma, I watched intently as the young sailors were rescued. The incident really did go to show how important the work of the RNLI is.”
The couple were brought ashore and were said to have no injuries, apart from bruised egos.
Wayne Bellamy, Station manager at Chiswick Lifeboat Station, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Mayor and are thrilled that she has chosen RNLI as her chosen charity. Incidents such as today’s rescue go to show just how dangerous the Thames can be and how important it is to be careful while on the river.”
June 11, 2010
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