Chiswick RNLI In 'Source To Sea' Relay

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Bottle of water from the source of the Thames comes to London

Starting in the rolling hills of Gloucestershire’s serene countryside, a bottle filled with water from the source of the River Thames has been carried along the river to the outskirts of London – linking communities along the way.

Walkers, swimmers, rowers, sailors, traditional boat owners, kayakers and many who are passionate about the river have passed the bottle from hand-to-hand to the outskirts of London. The bottle started its journey across London on 1 September – the start of the Totally Thames Festival.

On Thursday (4 September) Chiswick RNLI lifeboat crew collected the bottle from Kew where it had spent the night at the London Museum of Water and Steam and delivered it to Chiswick Pier, where it was received by the Mayor of Hounslow, councillor Corinna Smart.

Lifeboat crew members Peter Knight, James Kavanagh and Ian Smith were from Chiswick, Teddington and Gravesend lifeboat stations, reflecting the journey of the bottle on the tidal Thames.

Today (5 Sept) Chiswick RNLI lifeboat is to deliver the bottle to Dove Pier in Hammersmith for an overnight stay at Kelmscott House, the London Home of William Morris.

Over the period of the festival it will travel from west to east across the capital staying at different landmarks and venues each night, before being taken down river and out to sea on 30 September, the final day of Totally Thames.

Chiswick RNLI lifeboat is the second busiest in the UK and Republic of Ireland; since starting service in 2002, they have attended over 2500 incidents and rescued over 1300 people.

September 5, 2014