Chiswick to benefit from Marchioness Legacy

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Chiswick to benefit from Marchioness Legacy

Lawrence Dallaglio names new Thames Lifeboat

A new RNLI lifeboat, in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragic collision between the Marchioness and the Bowbelle on the River Thames, has been named The Legacy at a service Southwark Cathedral.

The new lifeboat, The Legacy, has been made possible by a generous bequest to the RNLI from Lieutenant Philip Francis Spencer King. The lifeboat will be a shared search and rescue asset used by three of the four the RNLI lifeboat stations on the Thames – including Chiswick.

England rugby captain, Lawrence Dallaglio – whose sister, Francesca, died in the tragedy – performed the naming during a service of dedication led by the Bishop of Southwark, the Right Reverend Dr Thomas Butler, and the Dean, the Very Reverend Colin Slee.

After the service, the Bishop of Southwark led the congregation to the south bank of the River Thames. The RNLI lifeboat from Tower Pier was positioned on the river between Cannon Street Bridge and London Bridge, close to where the Marchioness disaster occurred.

The Bishop said a final prayer and, in the following two minutes of silence, the RNLI crew laid 51 roses on the Thames in memory of the 51 lives lost.

 

May 28, 2004