Teddington RNLI Lifeboats Launch 96 Times in 2023

Calls to the station can come at any time, but in 2023 they were more common in the spring and summer (53%) and on Fridays and Sundays (43%)

Away from the river the wider station crew was also kept busy:

Water safety and education teams met a total of nearly 20,000 school children, scouts, rowers, paddle-boarders and other river users to give them vital advice on their own safety and that of those around them.

120 lifejackets were inspected at the free lifejacket clinics (nearly half of those checked were faulty).

One of 2023’s high spots was the arrival of a new lifeboat, the Alderman Penny Shelton, kindly donated by generous local benefactor, Hilary Saw.

The old boat is part of the station conversion to electric vehicles. It will be refurbished and fitted with an electric motor – before coming back to Teddington to be trialled on behalf of RNLI nationally. Meanwhile, an electric tractor will replace the diesel-powered existing vehicle.

The Teddington RNLI Lifeboat Station is part of the local community. Its crew attends the Village Fair, River Festival, Christmas Lights Up and more. Donations at these 45 events in 2023, as well as retail, directly and through legacies raised over £34,000, helping keep Teddington RNLI afloat.

The dedication of the 30 plus volunteer crew was highlighted on New Year’s Eve when six volunteer crew left their own celebrations to launch two lifeboats to rescue someone in trouble in the Thames.

Matt Allchurch, Lifeboat Station Operations Manager said, “We have had another busy year and I feel incredibly proud of all that our crew has done – on and off the water. We truly feel part of the Teddington community and would like to thank all those who have supported us this year, with a special mention to Hilary Saw. We all hope for a happy, peaceful and safe 2024 for our crew, supporters and local friends.”

If you see someone in trouble on the water, act like local New Year ‘heroes’, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

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• Teddington RNLI lifeboat station is one of four on the River Thames and is crewed and run by over 30 volunteers.
• The RNLI is a national charity funded only by donations and legacies.
• If you are interested in volunteering with the RNLI, visit https://rnli.org/support-us/volunteer/how-you-can-volunteer

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Gianna Saccomani, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07798905515 or [email protected] or Grace Palmieri, RNLI Deputy Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07855487508 or [email protected] , or Hatti Mellor, Regional Media Officer on 01273 818012 or [email protected]; or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.