Tower's Station history

A new search and rescue service for the Thames was announced on Monday 22 January 2001. The Institution was asked by the Government to provide lifeboat cover, this is the first time the Institution has set up lifeboat stations to specifically cover a river rather than estuarial waters, and will come into effect in 2002.

Station lifeboat E class Tiger FRB, E004, was placed on service at 1200 Wednesday 2 January 2002, when the new SAR arrangements for the tidal reaches of the River Thames came into operation.

A special framed certificate signed by Surgeon Rear Admiral F Golden and the Chief Executive presented to Helmsman Mike Sinacola, Mechanic Michael Neild and crew member Will Lawrie in recognition of the first aid rendered to a seriously injured woman and the care taken over a shocked crowd of onlookers during a service on 2 May 2004.

New facilities on the Thames at Waterloo Pier completed on 6 January at a cost of £802,826.

New station lifeboat E class E007 Hurley Burly, funded by a generous donation by Mrs Kay Hurley MBE, was placed on service on 24 May 2012.

On 28 April, the crew at Tower moved into their new lifeboat station, funded by the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and other generous donors. They had their first shout later that evening.

On 23 June, the station was officially opened by RNLI President HRH The Duke of Kent.