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News
February 2012
Evening Times Community Awards:
Glasgow Humane Society was nominated for the Glasgow Community Champion Awards in the Uniform Services category. Out of ten nominations the Society made the short list of three and on Thursday 16th February at John Wheatly College they received a finalist's certificate.
Present at the award were Officers George Parsonage and Antony Coia and Lifeguard Mark McKay
Update on Diamond Jubilee Pageant
The crew will consist of Officer George Parsonage, Lifeguard Kenneth Bryce and Lifeguard Mark Craig. At present the support group will include Officer Antony Coia, Lifeguard Mark McKay and Lifeguard Stephanie Dancer.
Noted from the Evening Times:
Clyde rescue boat in Royal tribute-23 Jan 2012
A GLASGOW hero is to take part in a pageant on the River Thames to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Up to 1000 vessels will take to the water on Sunday, June 3, in one of the largest events ever held on the river. In the midst of it will be George Parsonage, from the Glasgow Humane Society, who will row the length of the Royal route with two friends. The society's lifeboat officer has received an official invitation to join in the spectacle. He plans to row the 14ft 6in replica of the boat his father Benjamin built in 1954. The original is now on display in Glasgow's Riverside transport museum.
Vessels of every shape and size will join the Queen on the seven-mile journey down the Thames from Putney to Tower Bridge. With mustering and dispersal points at Hammersmith and Greenwich Royal Naval College, the length of the route will be almost 14 miles.
Mr Parsonage,68, said two people at a time will take the oars of his boat while the third rests. He added: "I couldn't believe it when I was told I had been accepted. "I immediately phoned friends who are Queen's Watermen and asked if rowing that distance on the Thames was possible. They said it was. "I have always joked about rowing on the Thames and to take part in this will be one of the greatest things I will have done. "I will be joined in the boat by international canoeist Kenneth Bryce, from Larkhall, who has been a lifeguard with the Humane Society for 30 years." Mr Parsonage has still to decide who will be the third person to join them in the boat.
The lifeboat will have to be towed the 344 miles to London. He said: "Rowing down the Thames is a fair journey, but the big journey for us will be getting down there."
Mr Parsonage, who was born in the Glasgow Humane Society House on the banks of the Clyde, has rescued some 1500 people from the river over the past four decades.
January 2012
There are over 60 Independent Lifeboats throughout Britain.
Friday 10th February has been denoted Independent Lifeboat Day when
throughout the Country people will be wearing the emergency lifeboat colour
of orange to state support and collecting money for their local Independent
Lifeboat.
We would ask that anyone who normally sends the Glasgow Humane Society a donation on Independent Lifeboat Day-for this year, do so through the Riverman Appeal (clicking on link will open a new page)
Many thanks to all who donate.
New-Year Message
While most persons enjoy the Christmas/New Year period, for others it can be a depressing time, memories of loved ones and loneliness can leave people not thinking straight.
Already during this period we have had to sit down and have a talk with people who are having a hard time. So please think of relatives, old folk living nearby, some neighbours living on their own; check that they are OK and maybe spend sometime talking to them or giving them some help.
If you see someone on their own hanging about for a long time at a quiet spot, either get some friends and go over and talk to them or report the matter to someone.
Lonely and sad people often just require a little bit of help to get them through this nostalgic time of year.
Then there is the Festive Spirit-real heavy Festive Spirit, Drink.
Please remember that drink and water do not mix.
Do not do silly things near waterways, do not try to walk along bridge parapets or climb girders, or go over railings. These actions and other equally stupid and dangerous behaviour often end in tragedy, tragedy for the person who ends up drowning, often for the person who drowns trying to save the person who has fallen in, and tragedy for the family and friends left behind.
And of course remember the tragedy of the man who drowned trying to save his dog which had fallen through the ice. Keep your dogs on leads near waterways especially when there is ice-too many people have drowned this way.
Think before you act and enjoy the Festivities without causing yourself or anyone else any grief.
If you do happen to be visiting a waterway over the holiday period (or
indeed at any other time) it is a good thing to carry a length of rope with
you (even a proper throw bag) which would enable you to perhaps carry out a rescue without getting into trouble yourself.
Practicing throwing a rope can actually be good fun.
December 2011
The Glasgow Humane Society has during the recent flooding on the river had to retrieve a canoe and a kayak from the river.
The trouble is that when members of the public observe a craft floating
downriver with no one in it, especially if it is upside down, they think
that there has been an accident and that there may be somebody in it.
So it was when last Friday 9th December when a message was received from the operator of the tidal weir at Glasgow Green that there was a canoe standing upright held by the ferocious current against the centre gate of the weir.
The weirman could see a corner of a lifejacket sticking out but could not
ascertain whether or not there was anyone in it. Tony and George attended immediately and with some hard effort assisted by the two weirmen, Alan and Jim, soon established that no one was on board. After about another hour of hard work the canoe was brought from the water. A mobile contained in a watertight box revealed the owners name. The owner attended on Saturday morning and was reunited with her craft.
On Saturday 10th December another call was received that there was a 
kayak upside down among the rubbish at the Ferry Nightclub. Tony, George and Lifeguard Cameron raced to the scene and after ascertaining again that there was no one underneath, they soon recovered the kayak. A watertight box contained mobile, house and car keys therefore Police were notified and attended. Police located the owner who attended on Sunday and reclaimed his craft.
Both had reported the loss of their craft to the Police but this had not
been passed down the line.
We always wish the following notified if a craft goes missing;
Strathclyde Police, Glasgow Humane Society, Clydeport Estuary Control and Clyde Coastguard.
If the Glasgow Humane Society is notified they will inform the others-GHS
details are on this web site.
Had a 999 call been made rather than the GHS contacted, a massive expensive search using several branches of the emergency services including helicopter may had ensued at great expense, so please if you ever get into the situation where you and your craft part company and it floats off downriver, give us a ring-you may even get your canoe or kayak back.
Glasgow Humane Society has managed to remove the debris from Polmadie Bridge which included three trees over 100 ft long. There is spasmodic debris still coming downriver so anyone boating as the current lessens (hopefully no more rain) will still have to be extremely vigilant and keep a good look out ahead.
November 2011
Warning
Society Officers and Lifeguards have recently had to shout to prevent crews and scullers colliding with each other during practice racing (and at other times). We have also noted a rise in the occasions when coaches and other rowers/scullers have had to shout similar warnings. We cannot be complacent regarding safety and think it will never happen to us. Recently there was a bad collision on the Tees which should be a lesson to us all to be extremely careful.
"The accident at Tees involved a VIII and an IV from Tees rowing cub
crashing head on to each other both doing racing pieces. The bow man of the IV was catapulted into the water and sustained multiple injuries including broken ankle, broken ribs, punctured lung and a back injury. He is making a remarkable recovery. The bow man of the VIII was saved by the back stay and had severe bruising. He refused to go to hospital and has recovered.
The crews probably started 1000m apart". Report from area safety.
September 2011
Glasgow Humane Society is delighted to note the commencement on 12th September of the safety fencing for Erskine Bridge.
The Society Officers George and Tony were involved in many on site meetings and assisted in the development of this railing. They said at the time that they were privileged to be allowed input into this fencing design along with many extremely experienced representatives from various firms the length and breadth of the Country.
It is to be hoped that as happens in Glasgow now, thanks to the advice of the Glasgow Water Safety Working Group and the Glasgow Humane Society, all new Bridge design will take account of safety measures to prevent persons climbing over, sitting on or walking along bridge parapets.
Prevention may not be better than cure, but perhaps it will cause people to think a bit more, behave in a more safe fashion thus preventing accidents and if necessary seek and hopefully get the answer if they make a cry for help.
Glasgow Humane Society has been working hard trying to ascertain exactly
what is happening regarding the ongoing closure of the towpath upstream of
Dalmarnock Bridge. We have made numerous trips upriver conveying many
different groups to view the area giving concern. There has certainly been
bank movement at the locus and until that is sorted out there appears little
chance of the towpath being again opened.
We will keep you in touch.
Among other current ongoing developments are the placing of lifebelt stances on the Clyde walkway between Dalmarnock Bridge and Carmyle;(though we are glad to report that the Boathouse Inn and Carmyle is again open and that they have two lifebelts and ropes on their premises for emergencies in their immediate area) having the proper safety type railing erected on the south banking between Rutherglen Bridge and Glasgow Rowing Club with gates onto the banking, yellow sections for lifebelts, these to have satellite positioned numbers for emergencies.
We are also negotiating having lifebelts placed centrally on Bells, Tradeston, Millennium and Jennies Bridges (we have placed two lifebelts on the Jennies bridge in the interim time)
Please note that the refurbishment of Rutherglen Bridges includes new lifebelt poles.
Lifebelts have also been positioned on the south bank along Adelphi St between Waddell Street and the Tidal Weir using makeshift poles due to this area of towpath not yet being included in upgrading of the area. Many of the Suds Ponds (areas lid aside for the collection of rainwater from the motorway to allow gradual drainage from the Suds Pond into the River) for the M74 motorway are now ready and all have emergency access stairways, lifebelts and ropes.
Saturday 13th August
Ian McKinnon of "Lochwatch Loch Awe" group met with George Parsonage MBE and Tony Coia of Glasgow Humane Society for advice on improving water safety on Loch Awe. "Lochwatch Loch Awe" is a group set up recently by a group of local residents at Loch Awe following the tragic drowning of four fishermen on the Loch in 2010.
"Lochwatch Loch Awe" is a network of local people with local facilities keeping safety watch and reporting or assisting people on or near the water. Glasgow Humane Society has championed Water safety for the people in the Greater Glasgow area since its foundation in 1790, and has already acted in an advisory role to Irelands Foyle Search and Rescue in their emergence from a small band of volunteers (1995) to an organisation providing important lifeboat safety cover to the people of Loch Foyle.
The meeting with Lochwatch Loch Awe has provided a link for the two groups to extend the water safety message across Strathclyde. Key to this link is the idea of Global Positioning by Satellite (GPS) lifebelt positions initially set up by George Parsonage and Tony Coia with Strathclyde Police which are all incorporated into the Police command and control system. Lochwatch Loch Awe intend to adopt a similar approach and are working with viable and cost effective solutions in directing emergency services to incidents that take place on or near to the water.
As demonstrated on the Clyde throughout Glasgow this system has proved effective to the police in identifying accurate locations for police attendance. For one lifebelt position alone in Glasgow Green in 2010 the position was quoted 106 times to police operators to identify the exact location of incidents of both criminality and incidents where people are at risk.
In practice this is a fraction of the actual incidents that are reported to the Glasgow Humane Society and Glasgow City Council directly for minor incidents that don't require a Police attendance e.g. recovery of items in the river or at or near the lifebelt position.
Lochwatch Loch Awe have agreed to accept an invitation from George Parsonage to attend the Water Safety Working Group held in Glasgow and Chaired by Glasgow City Council with a view to Lochwatch Loch Awe learning from the expertise already demonstrated by this group.
Subsequent to the Paddy Tompkins review, George Parsonage has been in touch with Scottish Government to request that cities and areas in Scotland interested in improving water safety in their area contact the Water safety Working Group in Glasgow in the same way as Loch Awe has done. This would help create a Scottish Water Safety Working Group which would champion best practice in pro-active and re-active water safety in Scotland.
01 August 2011
This coming Sunday (7th August) there is a canoe race between East Boathouse and Dalmarnock Bridge from 1230hrs onwards - details can be obtained from the Scottish Canoe website.
15 June 2011
Glasgow Humane Society Officers were delighted to hear on the news today that the contract will be awarded soon for a fence for Erskine Bridge.
No one will ever know just how many falls from the Bridge were cries for help from persons who at the last minute hoped that someone would notice that they had a problem they could not deal with, step in and get them the help they required.
Prevention is a necessary step to making distressed persons think again
Officers Tony and George thank Transport Scotland for the exceptional effort they have put in over many months to address this problem and for allowing the Glasgow Humane Society to give input.
Photographs show George and Tony testing trial fencing at Erskine.
George Parsonage took part in several Taggart productions, either giving safety cover to actors or, playing cameo roles recovering bodies from the river which allowed our favourite detective to say “there’s been a murder”.
Glasgow Humane Society now shows a collection of photographs of the scenes being shot. Click here for link to flickr gallery.
Public may have observed that work is being carried out on the south towpath between Rutherglen and Polmadie Bridges. While approving of any upgrades, we have to point out the following.
The vertical bar safety fence that was in place between the towpath and Richmond Park has been removed, leaving the horizontal bar fencing along the riverside of the path. Unfortunately this horizontal bar fencing is of a type condemned for safety reasons-namely the ease of climbing it.
This type of fencing was removed throughout Glasgow Green between the Albert Bridge and Rutherglen Bridge and a safe type of fence erected and realigned to benefit safety. The Glasgow Humane Society is very proud of this almost perfect example of working in partnership with the City Council for the safety of our citizens and visitors.
We are extremely perturbed by there only being the condemned fence along the Richmond Park banking. Accidents have occurred historically at this locus and we do not wish to add to that count in the future.
The vertical bar fencing that ran at right angles to the River Clyde along the west and east banks of the Jennies Burn have also been removed with nothing being put in place of the removed fence.
Families, parents and other members of the public who have reason to access this area, should be aware of the above and until this matter is resolved we advise anyone at that locus to be careful.
River work 12 February 2011
Glasgow Humane Society Officers and Lifeguards attended at Dalmarnock
Bridge on Saturday 12th February and using boats, ropes and pulleys managed to clear all debris from the south pier of the Bridge. Due to the flood currents, weather conditions and overgrowth on banking this was no easy task.
Around 200 metres of rope was in use.
The river was temporarily closed in this area during this operation which lasted for 6hrs. Tony and George thank all who participated in this excellent work.
Ongoing work at the Humane Society
- GHS is working in partnership with Clyde Gateway to develop the riverbank towpath between the Tidal Weir and Belvidere towards 2014 and the legacy thereafter.
- Development of new lifebelt/ladder/gate colour in conjunction with Highland Colour Coaters / Highland Galvanizers.
- Lifebelt posts and GPS signage for towpath/cycleway between Rutherglen and Dalmarnock Bridges.
- Railing gates lifebelt posts and signage for Richmond Park development by Bett Homes.
- New Bridge at Richmond Park over Jennies Burn (Jennies Bridge) with correct safety railing.
- Encouraging more waterside premises to keep rescue equipment in house and train personnel in use of said equipment.
- Re-painting of gates fencing lifebelt posts by GCSS restorative justice.
December 2010
- GHS has received word that there is an object just under the surface about 1 metre from the banking in the vicinity of the new Camlachie Burn outflow at the site of the old Millerfield Flats just down from Belvidere. Great care should be taken when passing this area. Please note that the towpath at this point is closed until about March.
- Ongoing towpath work in progress upstream of Allan's Pen (Newhall Street)
- Towpath above Dalmarnock Bridge continues to be closed for ongoing work. It is hoped that this will be opened again in the not too distant future
The Clydesdale Head of the River Race for scullers was held last Saturday
(9th October). Over 200 competitors with accompanying coaches/trainers/
friends/families converged on Glasgow Green and enjoyed good weather and a great days racing.
Lifeguards and Officers were on the water from around 0830hrs until 1530hrs with 7 boats being used for additional safety cover at various parts of the course.
One spectator was silly enough to climb out along the metal piling at the
top sewage works outflow to take photographs of passing scullers. This is a very dangerous thing to do and a terrible example to younger and less experienced. If they see an adult behaving like this, they are inclined to copy.
Forby the obvious danger of falling into the water, this was at a sewage
outflow where a fair amount of sanitary waste enters the water from a pipe below the surface and there are currents caused by the rate and amount of water flowing out of the pipe. He was advised to leave this position to which he complied.
Thursday 8th July, the new Jennies Bridge was lowered into place.
The
bridge rail is an excellent example of safety railing. Good height and
vertical bar. A lifebelt pole will be erected at the bridge. There is still
a fair amount of groundwork to be carried out, but hopefully the bridge will
open soon then perhaps something will be done about the terrible state of
the riverbank between this bridge and Rutherglen Bridge.
We can only advise and hope.
The Decommissioning service of the Bennie took place on Sunday 27th July.
Over 100 persons attended which was quite good considering we clashed with a
certain England v Germany football match. The service was conducted by the
Rev Peter Davidge with assistance from Rev John Whiteford and the Clydebank
Burgh brass band and friends played melodies and hymns.
At one point the wonderful service was rudely interrupted by the Klaxon for the phone going off; thankfully it was not an emergency and was only a lovely wee lady with a wrong number.
After the speeches decommissioning and official commissioning of the other boats, a fine spread was partaken of in the Garden of the GHS House, many thanks to all those who helped provide the food and all those that attended.
The Standing Boats by George Parsonage Riverman Art 2010
On 6th June 2010, George completed his sculpture on the riverbank inside the Society Compound.
This sculpture epitomises the "junk sculpture"idiom in which George has worked since graduating from the Glasgow School of Art in 1967.
Boats used in this art work were involved in crashes on the river, and
therefore forby commanding a place in Glasgow Green as a work of Art, it is
a warning to all river users that if they do not behave and follow the Rules
and Guidelines for safe behaviour, their boat could end up in a similar
sculpture.
The hulls of the boats are placed facing south west into the prevailing winds
Glasgow Humane Society calls on Highland Galvanizers
(article taken from highland colour coaters ltd blog - click here to link to article)
As one of the UK’s leading galvanising and powder coating applicators, we have worked with countless private and public sector organisations on a variety of projects. Usually this involves protecting steel from corrosion, but recently we were involved in protecting something much more important: peoples’ lives.
It all sounds very dramatic but true. Our services were called upon by the Glasgow Humane Society which is the world’s oldest practical life-saving organisation and has been responsible for the search and rescue of thousands of people.
The Humane Society was struggling to find a suitable coating for the numerous ladders, gates, and lifebelt stands positioned along the River Clyde, and when we heard of the news we decided to offer our Colourgalv technique and services free of charge.
The brief was simple, the ladders and lifebelt stands had to be able to withstand the hazardous environment of the Clyde and be bright enough to be seen from both water level and the river bank. The aim was to provide beacons of light for people in trouble.
We quickly set to work and used our hot dip galvanising process and powder coat finish to successfully light up a lifebelt stand at the Humane Society’s headquarters in Glasgow Green.
Not content with coming to the Humane Society’s rescue on one occasion, we answered yet another call for help and used Colourgalv on a gate at the charity’s HQ.
The Humane Society hopes to eventually install Colourgalv’d gates and lifebelt stands along the Clydeside, leaving the area bright and luminous. With Colourgalv, it will stay this way for over 25 years and corrosion free for decades.
Chief Officer of the Glasgow Humane Society, George Parsonage, said: “Although the Humane Society carries out rescues, our main aim is to help prevent accidents and the loss of life in the first place.
“It is vital that when they are needed, people can identify lifebelts. This can make the difference between a lucky escape and a tragedy.
“We are very grateful to Highland Galvanizers & Colour Coaters for providing its services. Hopefully this will be the first step we take towards safer waterways in our city.”
We really do hope George’s ambitions are realised and this is rolled out across the city, and we are eager to do as much as we can to help such a worthwhile cause.
We have given expert advice to Clydeport regarding casualty landing sites within the Clydeport jurisdiction.
Historic Boat to move to Museum
The Bennie, Rowing/outboard (max 5hp) designed and built by B Parsonage approx 14ft Called after Mr Benjamin Parsonage BEM Officer Glasgow Humane Society 1928-1979.
This is the fastest rowing boat that allows the lifting of a 20stone person
over the gunwale of the boat without capsizes. The boat can be rowed double
scull without anyone sitting in the stern and will still not dive in the
bow. The boat can be rowed backwards as fast as forward (except into a
headwind due to the square stern). The height of the rowlocks and the
distance and height of the seats to the rowlocks are carefully thought out
as is the height of the seat from the footboard and the distance of the seat
from the footboard. The boat has a box gunwale for strength and ease of
cleaning (the box gunwale is not capped).
The keel, bow and stern as well as the gunwale edge have steel runners. The
bow stern and seats have steel strengtheners. The boat was designed and
built by B Parsonage in 1954. It was drawn out in chalk on the floor of the
shed. The planks are of Larch with a Mahogany gunwale plank. The ribs or
timbers are of small leaf Elm and are held by copper nails and rooves
riveted. B Parsonage built several boats to this design all of, which (with
this exception) have been lost during floods. One of these types was built
during the Second World War and permission to do so had to be given by the
Admiralty. Papers referring to this are in the GHS records.
This Boat will next year be on display in the new Maritime Museum A video is being made by Culture and Sport Glasgow showing the rescue qualities of this boat and a "special" day is being arranged by the Society when the boat will be lifted for the last time from the water.
During its lifetime of service the Bennie hardly ever came out of the water, even for an annual overhaul. It was so perfect for it's purpose that no other boat was deemed good enough to take it's place, even temporarily.
This has been rectified by the building of two wooden boats on the same design called the George and the Christopher. Both boats have been in service for some years and the George is at present involved in a major clean up after which it will be re launched to take the place of the Bennie.
A mould has been made of the Bennie and two fiberglass boats called the Stephanie and the Ann have been made. Thus the Society has prepared for the future ensuring that future Officers will have available a craft of the unique design of the Bennie.
It will be a proud yet sad day for the Parsonage Family and the Society when the Bennie leaves it's beloved Clyde for the last time but we think being in the Museum will be a fitting tribute to the work carried out from this craft and to the number of persons pulled alive from a watery grave, over its gunnals.
Hopefully we will carry a report of how the Museums Dept are to skillfully dry out this craft and carefully prepare it life out of water.