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Lawrence Dallaglio names Thames lifeboat

London SE1 website team

England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio has named a new RNLI Thames lifeboat in memory of those who lost their lives in the collision between the Marchioness and the Bowbelle in August 1989.

Lifeboat naming
Eileen Dallaglio reads the lesson during the service


The ceremony took place in Southwark Cathedral's Millennium Courtyard and was attended by survivors and members of the victims' families. Also present were the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and Simon Hughes MP.

Lifeboat naming
Lawrence Dallaglio names lifeboat


Lawrence Dallaglio, whose sister Francesca died in the accident, named the lifeboat The Legacy.

Lifeboat naming
The Bishop of Southwark addresses the guests


Guests were welcomed by the Dean of Southwark who led the service of dedication. The lesson was read by Mrs Eileen Dallaglio, mother of Francesca and a representative of the Marchioness Contact Group.

Lifeboat naming
Procession to the riverside


Afterwards the Bishop of Southwark led guests to the riverside where the RNLI lifeboat from Tower Pier was positioned on the river.

Lifeboat naming
51 roses are laid on the river from a lifeboat


The Bishop said a prayer and, in the silence which followed, the crew laid 51 roses on the Thames in memory of the 51 lives lost. At once the flowers floated on the tide upstream and across the reach above Cannon Street Railway Bridge where the tragedy occurred.

Lifeboat naming
A rose floats upstream


The new lifeboat, made possible by a bequest, will be a shared search and rescue asset used by three of the four the RNLI lifeboat stations on the Thames – Tower Pier, Chiswick and Teddington.

Lifeboat naming
The ceremony viewed from London Bridge


Last year the Thames lifeboats were called out on average twice a day and were involved in rescuing 271 people.

• A memorial to the Marchioness victims is in Southwark Cathedral.

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