Celebrating Chiswick RNLI: A farewell to the crew and volunteers.

The Chiswick Pier Trust says goodbye to the Chiswick RNLI lifeboat station as it relocates to Wandsworth next month

Guest blog by David Rust, General Manager of The Chiswick Pier Trust 

For those of us who live near or regularly use the Thames paths around Chiswick, the presence of the RNLI lifeboat station has become a familiar and reassuring aspect of river life.

Whether responding to a vessel in trouble, helping someone in difficulty or simply offering a kind word, the Chiswick lifeboat crew and its 80 volunteers have consistently demonstrated the professionalism and dedicated community service for which the RNLI is renowned.

But Chiswick is no backwater lifeboat station. As the second busiest lifeboat station in the British Isles, our Chiswick RNLI crew have rescued 27 people from the water this year alone. Since 2002, they have responded to 5600 incidents and directly saved the lives of 240 souls. Chiswick has been so fortunate.

The Chiswick lifeboat crew 

However, after 24 years, Chiswick RNLI station is relocating to Wandsworth next month. For the Chiswick community, there will inevitably be a sense of loss as the familiar presence of the lifeboat station moves downstream.

Whilst it is sad to say farewell, the reasons for the move are understandable: The much larger RNLI station building will bring much more dedicated space, allowing essential regional crew training courses, large fund-raising events and a retail shop.

James McConnell, Co-Chair of Chiswick Pier Trust, lamented the loss of the RNLI. Since 2002, they have been much more than a tenant or house mate, but a treasured member of our family.

He likened it to being proud parents seeing their child finally leave home: “Your heart is broken and you don’t want them to go, but at the same time you are immensely proud that they have at last got on the property ladder just down the road”

We, at Chiswick Pier Trust, simply could not let them go without giving them a good send off.

On Friday,  August 14, we opened our doors and welcomed many representatives of the community, from river organisations, rowing and sailing clubs, RNLI administration, Sea Cadets, Hounslow Council, houseboat residents and those who simply wanted to express their gratitude.

The event ran by The Chiswick Pier Trust

This was an evening for both celebration and thanks. Acting Chiswick Station Manager, Andy Mayo, gave a heartfelt speech of thanks to Chiswick Pier Trust, which reflected the sentiment of many crew members in their sadness of leaving Chiswick.

Many others in the hall took the opportunity to stand and offer their personal messages, including our local MP, Andy Slaughter. The RNLI presented Chiswick Pier Trust with a magnificent plaque. Also a superb lifeboat cake, handmade by our Treasurer Sarah Hartill, was the perfect table centre.

A lifeboat cake made by Treasurer Sarah Hartill 

The plaque presented to The Chiswick Pier Trust by the RNLI

As the speeches and presentations concluded, the celebrations continued and guests spread outside to enjoy the balmy evening into what was a perfect riverside gathering and setting. This was Chiswick Pier doing what it does best.

Guests enjoying the evening 

So, what will happen at Chiswick Pier now?

Whilst The Chiswick Pier Trust continues fulfilling its charitable remit of providing an active calendar of events, activities and outreach programmes, there is much more to come in early 2027.

Plans are well underway for a new bistro café venue at Chiswick Pier, bringing a unique community hub venue and riverside meeting space designed to be enjoyed by all in the wider Chiswick community.

The outgoing lifeboat crew are already planning to include coffee breaks at their old home on their daily training schedules afloat. Like those offspring who once left home, they often find reason to pop back. Funny that.

But, above all, there is one thing that holds all of this and all of us together – The River Thames. Dependable, accessible, inspirational – Just where would Chiswick be without it?