Information Technologists’ Company
FELLOWSHIP
WCIT Visit to RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station
‘A
we-inspiring’ was the reaction by WCIT members who visited
the Tower Lifeboat Station below Waterloo Bridge on 27th
March. Andrew Stewart, the Visits Officer, welcomed us and gave a
detailed presentation on the RNLI (pointing out that this was the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution for anyone who did not know - including
84% of Londoners) - the charity which saves lives at sea - and on the
Thames.
A new E-Class Mk2 Lifeboat in action
The Tower Station, so named because it started life near the Tower of London after the Thames Safety Inquiry
following the Marchioness disaster in 1989, moved to its present location in 2006. Tower is one of four
lifeboat stations on the tidal Thames (the others are at Gravesend, Chiswick and Teddington) and the busiest
station overall, launching 492 times in 2013, rescuing 128 people and saving 19 lives.
While we were there, they were called for a ‘shout’ to a person reported to be at risk on Westminster Bridge. It
was interesting to see the speed with which the boat, a new E-Class Mk2 lifeboat and the fastest in the RNLI
fleet (faster than the Police launch that also rushed past) took off - fortunately, on this occasion the Police were
Visitor, Past Master Jonathan Soar able to deal with the situation without the lifeboat being required…
Because of the interest and the number of members who were unable to join us at 4pm, we are planning a return visit for August, when we will
plan to have supper before a tour at 19.30 (the few of us who went on to the Hispaniola thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere there). Hopefully,
being school holidays, we might be joined by some children or grandchildren!
Contributed by WCIT Liveryman, Peta Walmisley
2014 Inter-Livery Pancake Race
...in pictures...
T
he annual Shrove Tuesday race was on again for the 10 th
year this February! Held at Guildhall, the WCIT proudly
won the ladies event in 2013 and were vying to reclaim
that exclusive frying pan…
Photography by Mike Williams: www.photographybymikewilliams.co.uk
The Master secured a very close second place whilst
Freeman Maggie Berry gave it her all but just missed
out.
Although our attempts this year failed to secure the
pan, WCIT Liveryman Howard Skidmore did manage
to win the Best Novelty Dress Award for his depiction
of the all-encompassing human globe of the Lord
Mayor’s Charity, Raleigh International…and yes, that
is Howard in the picture above…well done Howard!
From Left: Facing forward Liveryman Howard
Skidmore (promise); the Master; Freeman
Maggie Berry; and Liveryman Philip Allega
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