Sue and Ian
POWER TO THE PEOPLE - VIA THE GLASGOW HUMANE SOCIETY
We understand that recently all work and consequently payment by Strathclyde Police to the Glasgow Humane Society (GHS) for river search and rescue has stopped.
With that section of water safety taken over by Fire and Rescue, the existence of the 219 year old GHS and its officers is now under threat.
No doubt, Fire and Rescue have well trained officers and the best modern technology to fulfil this new remit. Nevertheless, no modern department, however well resourced and capable, can hope to match the experience and knowledge of Glasgow’s waterways held by the GHS personnel. Police and Fire officers get promoted or transferred. Most of these officers will be faced with other priorities as well. They move on and any knowledge gained goes with them.
Besides this, the authorities can only allow so much time before abandoning the search for a loved one’s body. The GHS have no such time constraints.
Reading the book on Ben Parsonage BEM (previous long serving and much respected officer of the GHS) is enlightening. It indicates that the present senior officer of this Society, (George Parsonage, son of Ben) has 48 years of experience when it comes to dealing with incidents on Glasgow waterways. Not only that, but George’s experience did not start from scratch, but drew on the wide experiences of his father. George continues to pass down this critical knowledge to other GHS officers.
Such intimate knowledge of the Clyde and its dangers does save time and therefore money, not to mention lives. In addition, there are the practical aspects of working on the river to achieve the best possible outcome. No water safety officer worth their salt would ignore the opportunity to draw on this expertise.
With the prospect of a new rowing club and marinas along the Clyde, together with the new rights of public access, there is every indication that there will be a marked increase in river activity and with that, the potential for accidents.
Of course, water safety does not only mean keeping the public safe around Glasgow’s waterways in the obvious manner referred to above. It entails proper management of the river and its bank.
For example ensuring life saving equipment and access to the river is available in an emergency, wherever that emergency may be.
Not only that, but management of the bank so that accidents can, in the first place, be spotted and secondly, kept in view. Occurrences don’t stop in one place on or in the river.
As well, we see the river with perhaps an occasional branch, ball or bottle making the trip seaward. There would be an awful lot more if the GHS were not constantly fishing stuff out. Floating palettes are a great attraction as a raft for any youngster. Balls and rubber tyres have a similar draw. That is how many a child is lost, trying to reach the ‘toy’.
We do not suggest that the GHS carry out all these tasks single-handedly. Although, we know they do all they can towards its achievement. Besides ‘pitching in’, one of the major strengths of the GHS is to keep vigilance and report back to the right authority when action is necessary. In this way continuity in the care of the River, and thus the Glasgow people, is maintained. There is no other body capable of carrying out this vital role.
If we are serious about water safety, then we need to maintain the foundation and continuity of the GHS experience and knowledge. Glasgow City Council and other affected organisations would do well to support the GHS into an uncertain future on the river. This is exactly the moment that Glaswegians need an independent and protective body to speak on their behalf.
A terrific example of this co-ordination happened early this year when Glasgow City Council put in trojan work clearing the south side of the Clyde river bank. There was a bonus for all because the primroses, wood anemones and blue bells all flourished – what a treat!
Sue and Ian
(river watchers!)