PA News-Scotsman Online - May 05 2005 - By Laure Elston and Gayle Ritchie, PA
River rescuer to continue lifesaving role.
A hero who has saved more than 1,500 people from drowning vowed not to abandon his lifesaving today after it emerged that the police will no longer turn to him for help due to health and safety reasons.
George Parsonage, 61, has rowed a boat on the River Clyde to rescue men, women and children from danger since 1979.
Officers from Strathclyde Police have now been instructed not to call Mr Parsonage out because he is the only member of his lifeboat rescue-team left and would have to work alone.
Mr Parsonage belongs to the Glasgow Humane Society which was founded in 1790 as a service to rescue people from drowning in the Clyde, and recover the bodies of those drowned.
His life-saving work was carried out in conjunction with Strathclyde Police, who would page him for help when someone was in danger.
Today, he was given a special lifetime award in honour of his work by the Royal Humane Society in London.
The silver medal was presented to him by Princess Alexandra.
Mr Parsonage insisted that he would still rescue people from the water if alerted by the public.
"The police won't call me. But if a member of the public calls and there's someone out in the river, I'll be out there. If I see someone, I'll go." He added: "It's going to be very very difficult.
The people of Glasgow are used to a service. "You must look at health and safety but I question some of the practicalities.
"Having said that a one-man lifeboat should not be around in the 21st century."
Strathclyde Police said a meeting with the Society was held last month and it was discovered that Mr Parsonage's assistant had left.
Mr Parsonage remained philosophical about the decision and said he was not looking for a helper straight away and remained on good terms with the police.
"It doesn't stop. It just happens to be a hiccup at the moment. I could find an assistant tomorrow. "
"It's whether or not the society will want to continue with the rescue work."
He said that he would also focus on prevention work, adding: "I've got 1,000 jobs. It might be a blessing." The lifesaver admitted he was "humbled" by his award.
"To me it's an honour for the citizens and officers of Glasgow. It can be extremely difficult.
The public can call you at any time. "It's quite a privilege to save people's lives. It's nice to be able to do it."
He was accompanied to the ceremony by his wife Stephanie.
A police spokeswoman said: "We learned that Mr Parsonage is the sole Humane Society officer. "On that basis, Strathclyde Police, for reasons of health and safety, find themselves unable to task the Humane Society to undertake rescue or recovery work within the force area."
The spokeswoman said Mr Parsonage could restart his work if he found another suitably qualified assistant.
Mr Parsonage took over the running of the Glasgow Humane Society from his father in 1979 and carried out his work in conjunction with Strathclyde Police.
The Society's original base was in a house at the edge of Glasgow Green, nicknamed "The Dead Hoose", but this was demolished in the late 30s.
It had always been a family business with George Geddes manning the boat between 1859 and 1899, until his son, another George, took over until his death during a rescue attempt in 1931.
He was then replaced by Ben Parsonage, who served until his death in 1979, and was succeeded by the current George Parsonage.
The Royal Humane Society has been giving awards for bravery and lifesaving since 1774 and is one of the UK's oldest bravery awards organisations.
One survivor Ken Munro, who was rescued during a boating incident, paid tribute to Mr Parsonage. "This is George's life on the river here rescuing people. I'm not saying it's what he enjoys doing but it's what he does and he's the best at it,"
Mr Munro told Sky News. "He's made a lifetime out of it and he justly deserves this award."