RNLI Teddington.

And yet another updated tweet from head office...

All very odd, they usually reply to my tweets as well but radio silence on this occasion, just the PR machine pumping out further updates for a trivial call out.

Just makes me want to dig deeper ...

And the full vid shows everything apart from a "tow" which I would expect if they had to drop the hook because of a dodgy drive. Went back under its own steam.

Odd, very odd
 
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The amended tweet made reference to the rest some 8 hours after someone highlighted the fact this was a wasted mission on Twitter.

Some uninformed random has a go at them on twitter; they respond by explaining the situation in more detail. All very reasonable, no conspiracy theories needed.
 
So 24 posts basically stating non event really ,nobody hurt or injured and nothing much happened .... ?
Vast swathes of cold wet pensioners will surely sleep soundly in their beds ?
 
That uninformed random is me. A Teddington resident walking past at the time.

I know more than I am prepared to put on here.

Unfortunately it does push me to withdraw my RNLI membership. Not much but my way of expressing dismay at the sheer volume of launches that are not nessesasry.

old git you miss the point about old folk collecting. They probably have no idea how many times its launched and for what. In fact I know this to be true as I talk to them when passing.

My last on it.

Thanks for the debate.
 
As well as anyone else as in no video evidence whatsoever.

My point being there was no mention at all of any drive damage or the possibitly of taking on water on any shout tweet. It's only when I questioned it that some 8 hours later it was updated.

Yet video conveniently cuts out any visible assistance related to a damaged drive and the boat goes on downstream to its mooring under its own steam. Again no film of a tow which I would expect otherwise why would you call the RNLI out apart from the original reason of a snagged anchor.

I have good reason for questioning this shout, I am not RNLI bashing I a simply concerned as a memeber and local resident that perhaps the life boat is being used a little too often.

Just my view
 
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As a recently retired volunteer member the Thames Lifeboat crew I can assure that they ('we') happily respond to any call that is justified by Thames HM coastguard. They do not call out crews for fun or for exercise and regardless of what you may have read or interpreted 'the shout' was justified. Every day and night my face book posts the current crews going out to anything, most times stood down on false alarm. It is better to go and be not needed than stand & watch, then have a forum full of comments on why the RNLI did not act accordingly. Saving lives comes first, reason comes later with some education if required.

Your contributions to the charity are put to good use every day to train crews and keep them safe etc etc. The concept of wasted money is always evident even to those in the charity but you are outside looking in and may not appreciate the expenditure it takes to run.

In short I would say please do not criticise the decision to launch, next time someone who read this will not request help, will try to fix the issue/fail and as a result a life may be lost unnecessarily.
 
My point being there was no mention at all of any drive damage or the possibitly of taking on water on any shout tweet. It's only when I questioned it that some 8 hours later it was updated.

You raised a question; they answered it. I'm finding it hard to understand the outrage.

It's clear that you think the RNLI crew are lying. Why would they spend time hanging around a boat which did not require assistance, do you think?
 
They did not answer it at all, they added further information outside of the norm, after the event and left out any meaningful eveidence out of the video !

If it was in danger of taking on water, would they not put a crew on ?

If it was a damaged drive and in danger then why not report that in the original tweet ?

If it was disabled then why not tow it and film it ?

Why cut the video from the moment the anchor was released with the tangled fire place( the main reason cited in the original shout tweet) and then start when the boat was approaching its home berth under its own steam ?

Appreciate I am alone in my views but hey ho.

Oh and by the way the vessel is still very much afloat on its home morning when I ran past 15 mins ago.

Put simply this was a wasted launch and a waste of charity funds.

And yes that's my view.
 
Would not want to be around the first time someone has to say

...There will now be a short message.
"Please be aware that your message is being recorded for training purposes.Are you aware of the many pensioners who got both cold and wet funding your rescue. Please use our services accordingly.".

Sorry.....Under our new more stringent rules we do not think you qualify for a call out ..
You might want to give us call again in 30 mins if things get any worse . !
 
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You are missing the point. It's your money being used.

Anyhow. As I have said before I have said enough. Clearly I am the only one seeing it as it is.

Actually I am not, I am the only one saying something !
 
Well, as an active supporter of the RNLI, I'm quite happy with the above events.
I'm not in a position to judge whether or not the call-out was justified, and frankly, that's none of my business!
If the guys just used it as a training exercise, then it was useful in my personal opinion.
I'd be unhappy if my money was being squandered, and I am aware of how wealthy an organisation they are. I'm also acutely aware that they are their to offer their support and assistance around the clock which is well worth the small voluntary payment I make.
OK, most of the time I'm operating well within sight of land, but even just a couple of miles offshore things can get very nasty, very quickly as I have found out to my cost when slightly younger and about as stupid. The fact that the RNLI is a radio call away makes them infinitely good value to me.
I respect your opinion, but as a "silent" follower of the thread, I just wanted to express my views on it.

Happy boating!
 
Well, as an active supporter of the RNLI, I'm quite happy with the above events.
I'm not in a position to judge whether or not the call-out was justified, and frankly, that's none of my business!

I would be entirely content to trust the judgement of the crew regarding the decision to launch, take action or stand by. Furthermore I would, if the casualty, be disappointed if the RNLI decided to publicise my situation in detail to satisfy the curiosity of a know-it-all passer by.
 
Know it all passer by !

I never said I knew it all I said I was concerned about needless launches and a possible waste of hard earned charity funds.

Love it, you don't know me so cannot judge. Leave the insults out you silly duck ...

Erm they have more than publicised this and all their shouts via social media so your comments do not hold water.

Have a good weekend.
 
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Know it all passer by !

I never said I knew it all I said I was concerned about needless launches and a possible waste of hard earned charity funds.

You clearly do not know enough to determine whether this was a needless launch or a waste of funds. It's absolutely none of your business anyway, and I hope the RNLI do not waste more time responding to your stirring.
 
As I said you clearly don't know me so your comments are utter tosh.

How is it stirring wanting to protect charity money ?

I think you are stirring now.

How big is that wooden spoon of yours ?

Good day to you sir ...
 
Folks, the reality here is that the RNLI is the rapid response option in the Teddington area. It takes the Met marine unit or Surrey fire and rescue much longer to respond to river incidents hence the RNLI getting first shout. As a committee member of another RNLI branch upstream, I can say that we exist to assist anyone in trouble while afloat or in need around the coast. We don't judge, we just want to help. One inexperienced mariner's disaster is another experienced mariner's minor cock up but we go to help whatever.

The cost is minimal in this case as it involves modest amounts of fuel but there is still benefit in practising the response process by the crews who volunter out of a wish to save life and rescue those in trouble, however minor it may appear to others.
 
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