Visits Chiswick Lifeboat station as charity faces criticism over migrant rescue
![Ruth Cadbury MP on the Chiswick RNLI Lifeboat](images/ruthcadburyrnli.jpg)
Ruth Cadbury MP on the Chiswick RNLI Lifeboat
Brentford & Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury has demonstrated her backing for the RNLI by making a visit to the Chiswick Lifeboat station.
She defended the charity from what she described as ‘deeply immoral’ undue criticism over the participation in the rescue of migrants in dinghies in the English Channel.
She was briefed by the Chiswick crew on the challenges they have faced over the last eighteen months. Given the tour by Wayne, the station manager, and a group of their volunteers, Ruth heard how the majority of their work is about protecting those who underestimate the dangers of the Thames or to rescue those attempting suicide.
RNLI Chiswick is the second busiest of all the RNLI stations across Britain and Ireland, with Tower Bridge being the busiest. Both only came about after the Marchioness party boat tragedy in August 1989, the aftermath of which meant that in 2002 the RNLI set up four lifeboat stations on the Thames—at Gravesend, Tower Bridge, Chiswick and Teddington.
After the visit Ms Cadbury said, “Throughout the pandemic, I have kept in contact with RNLI Chiswick to support them and their volunteers during these testing times. Despite the important public service that the RNLI does, almost all their funds comes from charitable fundraising.
“The recent attempts by the far-right to demonise the RNLI for carrying out lifesaving work was deeply immoral.
“I was delighted to see the public’s response to the criticism, with the waves of donations made in the days following. I am incredibly grateful to our local RNLI and their volunteers for keeping West Londoners safe while on the Thames”.
To learn more about the work of the RNLI Chiswick and to donate, follow the link here.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More
This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism.
Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets.
We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more.
However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do.
We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area.
A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site.
One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute.
If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor.
For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site.
|
August 11, 2021
|