River Rescue Hero Honoured
Published: May 5, 2005
A man who has saved more than 1,500 people from drowning in the River Clyde will be presented with a special lifetime award today by Princess Alexandria.
George Parsonage, 61, has rowed a boat on the river to rescue men, women and children in danger of drowning since 1979.
He will be presented with a special silver medal in honour of his work from the Princess, who is president of the Royal Humane Society.
Mr Parsonage took over the running of the Glasgow Humane Society from his father in 1979.
His life-saving work is carried out in conjunction with Strathclyde Police. The Glasgow Humane Society was founded in 1790 as a lifeboat service to rescue people from drowning in the Clyde, and recover the bodies of those drowned.
Its original base was in a house at the edge of Glasgow Green, nicknamed “The Dead Hoose”, but this was demolished in the late 30s.
The Society has 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.
Mr Parsonage will receive his award at The Royal Humane Society’s Annual General Court at Haberdashers’ Hall in London.
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.
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