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Boatyards operate similarly to their counterparts on the opposite side of the harbour and commercial hovercraft were built and maintained on part of the old Woodnutts site until 2012. The Duver side of the harbour has also seen businesses come and go over the years. Other boatyards remain albeit with a shift towards maintenance and repairs and the Embankment is still home to two yacht clubs. The Embankment saw businesses come and go such as the pilotage service run by Ernie Wade and the boatbuilders Keith Nelson (Thorneycroft). Helens Quay was still being used by various boatyards many years later. Track beds became footpaths, buildings used by marine orientated businesses such as the Ariadne Sailing School and boatyard workshops. As a result of this closure track beds and railway buildings became redundant, available for a variety of other uses. The railway closed in 1953, long before other UK branch lines. Regular mainland boat connections were established, many boat building and engineering businesses developed and the Harbour underwent a busy and industrially developed stage from the late 19th century to around the 1950s.
LIFEBOAT SERVERS THE WALLS PLUS
The construction of the railway, plus its associated land reclamation also heralded the start of significant industry, shipping and commerce in the local area. The main link between the two, until the Embankment Road and Railway links were built, was by boat. Bembridge was much smaller than today and over ten kilometres away by road. The largest and most recent enclosure via the construction of an embankment in 1879 linking St Helens to Bembridge by both rail and road, resulted in the Harbour boundaries seen today which measure only one fifth of the original River East Yar estuary.Īpproximately two hundred years ago, St Helens would have been a small coastal village associated with shipping, fishing and the general small scale maritime economy. Sea walls constructed in 1338 (Yarbridge), 1562 (Bexley Point) and 1594 (Centurion's Copse – Wall Lane) steadily reduced its estuarine area. The RNLI is entirely supported by voluntary contributions.Bembridge Harbour is the sole remaining intertidal part of the former much larger Brading Harbour (or Brading Haven) which extended over three kilometres inland, with a quay near Brading town.
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The four Thames lifeboats together have responded to over 3,500 calls. Since then it has responded to over 1,000 emergency calls. Chiswick RNLI lifeboat became operational on the 2nd January 2002. The RNLI has 233 lifeboat stations including four on the Thames. On this occasion it was fortunate that the crew only had one life to save and Chelsea had her first trip in a lifeboat. When pets get into difficulty in the water, their owners or passers-by often go in to try to save them, sometimes with tragic results.
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With only minor scratches, she happily rested in the station after her ordeal, until her owner arrived.Īlthough primarily dedicated towards rescuing lives at sea, RNLI lifeboat crews often have to deal with animals. She is slightly deaf, so when she wandered off he was unable to call her back and was not nimble enough to chase her.Ĭhelsea had travelled 5 miles across dozens of busy roads and survived an epic swim in the Thames, which was swollen by floodwater from the heavy rains. Gary Tiller said “He was devastated at losing Chelsea four hours earlier in Kilburn, and to say that he was overwhelmed to hear she was safe would be an big understatement.”Ĭhelsea’s owner Eric Witchell had been seriously ill, and acquired the dog from Battersea Dog’s Home for companionship. Helmsman Gary Tiller, who is known in the Lifeboat Station as something of a dog- whisperer, calmed the dog down and wrapped her in a blanket while they brought her back to Chiswick.Ĭhelsea had all the correct details on her tag, and so the crew were able to call the owner. Two of the lifeboat crew managed to catch the dog and brought her into the lifeboat. When the lifeboat arrived at 11.45 the crew found that the terrier had swum to the north bank and was desperately trying to scramble up the slippery river wall next to Hurlingham Park to escape the rapidly rising tide. He dialled 999 and the coastguard summoned Chiswick RNLI Lifeboat to investigate. On Sunday 9th December a walker in Wandsworth Park spotted a small dog struggling in the fast running Thames. Lifeboat crew rescues young pup from banks of the Thames RNLI volunteer crewman Cavan Woods reunites Chelsea with her owner RNLI crew reunites Chelsea the swimming dog with her owner Related Links
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Chiswick Lifeboat Stars In Soggy Dog Story