Glasgow Humane Society

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Official news and updates from the Glasgow Humane Society regarding safety on the River Clyde for all river and banking users.

All rowers and coaches who regularly use the Clyde should check this page for updates. Flickr Account: 33965561@N00/sets" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/33965561@N00/sets

01/11/2026

Our volunteers have been out over the weekend to continue with searches and helping to clear the debris.

29/10/2026

The team were down river today, carrying out searches. You can see the impact from the storm with all the debris.

24/10/2026

Some of our board members have signed up for the Glasgow Kiltwalk on Sunday 25th April to raise funds for the society so we can keep doing our work on Glasgow's beautiful waterways 🩵 We would love it if you wanted to join us, the starting line is here by our boatyard in Glasgow Green 🫶🏻 the just giving page for us is called 'Humane Society' 🛟

21/10/2026

A wonderful night was had, thank you for choosing us and to all who donated 🛟🩵

Our Vice Dean of Guild, Frances McMenamin, was delighted to represent the Merchants House at the recent Institution of Engineers in Scotland (IES) James Watt Dinner.

One of the oldest engineering dinners, the event celebrates James Watt’s achievements and honours new inductees into the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame.

Held at the Radisson Blu on 2nd October, this year’s dinner raised more than £2,000 for the Glasgow Humane Society.

Frances thoroughly enjoyed the evening and was pleased to support a celebration of Scotland’s rich engineering heritage.

📸 Scott Gibson, The Gibsons Photography

09/10/2026

Did you know you can donate as a one off through our website, become an individual member for £20 per year, or a corporate member for £75 per year 🩵 If you have an idea for fundraising, whether that's running a marathon or organising an event, you can get in touch with us through our website 🛟 We're grateful to have such a supportive community, we couldn't do this without you 🫶🏻

08/10/2026

Our cutest volunteer collecting the lifebelts and footballs 🛟🐾🐶

07/10/2026

💪 🛟 🚣

At 2.45 in the morning on 18 April 1978, a 43 year old woman went into the River Clyde from the Albert Bridge in Glasgow. The water was eight to twelve feet deep, fast flowing and bitterly cold, with the rusting remains of an old metal structure jutting up from the riverbed below.

George Parsonage was woken from his sleep and rushed to the bridge, where two Strathclyde Police officers, Inspector Kenneth McLean and Sergeant Colin Campbell, were waiting. He dropped a lifebuoy into the river and tied its line to the parapet. Then he let the officers lower him some 60 feet on a second rope, down into the black water.

In total darkness, with the water at just 2°C, he swam six yards to the woman, took hold of her in a chin tow and brought her back to the rope. As the police hauled her up, her unconscious body caught on the parapet. George was pulled up on the other line to free her, and she was finally lifted to safety. He began artificial respiration straight away. In less than a minute she was breathing again, and she was taken to hospital by ambulance.

For this rescue he was awarded the Royal Life Saving Society's Mountbatten Medal, given each year for the most gallant rescue in the Commonwealth.

George was born on the banks of the Clyde, in the Glasgow Humane Society's house on Glasgow Green, and made his first river rescue in 1958 alongside his father, Ben. When Ben d*ed in 1979, George took over the society. Over the next four decades he is credited with rescuing more than 1,500 people from the river. He was made an MBE in 1999 and finally stepped back in 2019, at the age of 75.

A true Glasgow hero.

Address

Glasgow Humane Society, 1D Glasgow Green
Glasgow
G401BA

Telephone

+441415510332

Website

http://glasgowhumanesociety.org.uk/

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