Evening Times - May 2, 2006
Ben Parsonage, River Clyde, 1978
Observed article in Times Past in Evening Times newspaper
“Ben Parsonage, River Clyde, 1978. Glasgow Humane Society officer Ben Parsonage was the undisputed king of the Clyde. In a career spanning more than 50yrs, Ben was responsible for rescuing more than 1000 people from the river and also recovered more than 2000 bodies.
A powerful rower, he knew every pool eddy and turn of the tide on the great river, knowledge which he passed on to his son George who took up the rescue society mantle when his father retired.
Ben died in 1978.
I sent the following
Dear Sirs,
It was nice to read the article in “Times Past” on May 2nd 2006 regarding my late father. But just to put the record straight, Ben Parsonage rescued a far larger number than he recovered a statistic that he was very proud of.
Also Ben Parsonage did not retire but died in the job.
He was definitely the “undisputed King of the Clyde”.
Many thanks, George Parsonage