Glasgow Humane Society.

The Glasgow Humane Society was founded in 1790 by a group of Glasgow businessmen. In 1787 a Mr James Coulter left the sum of £200 in the keeping of the Faculty of Surgeons (now the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow) to set up a Society.

Humane Societies were being formed all over the World like in London, Paris, New York, Amsterdam and Venice, but Glasgow was the only Society to employ an Officer to carry out the practical work of Prevention, Rescue and Recovery. A meeting was held in the Tontine Hotel on 16th August 1790 and the Society was formed.

From the beginning there was a boathouse in Glasgow Green. By 1785 a house for the Officer had been built and the then Officer Mr. Robert Jones stood down and a Mr. John Wiseman moved into the house. Since that date various men were Officers Robert Duncan, James Baird, Duncan Downie, John McLean, James Geddes and John Geddes. George Geddes became Officer in 1859 and was followed by his son, also George.

Unfortunately the second George's son died in 1928 while attempting to rescue a man at the Suspension Bridge. Benjamin Parsonage, who had been assisting Mr. Geddes for 10 years, became the longest serving Officer, dying in the position in 1979. His son George followed him into the Officership. Today Mr. Anthony Coia assists George.

Before the building of the St. Andrews Bridge, the Glasgow Humane Society Officer ran a ferry service across the river here. The river is very deep and shaped like a basin with steep sides. A comparison can be made with the river Thames at Putney and the Clyde at Glasgow Green. The Thames is 5 times wider but at low tide the Clyde is 5 times deeper. (The Thames bed being saucer-shaped, the Clyde bed being like a basin).

Many thousands of citizens and visitors have been rescued thanks to the efforts of the Glasgow Humane Society ; many thousands owe their lives to the prevention work carried out. Many hundreds of families give thanks to the Glasgow Humane Society for the recovery of their loved ones remains. The inscription in the slate slab at the North end of the St. Andrews Bridge says "Ben Parsonage single handedly rescued more persons from drowning than any other person in Britain".

Today the Glasgow Humane Society Officers concentrate on prevention work although rescue and recovery still take place.

The lifebelts, yellow gates, signage and riverside railings are all part of the prevention work arranged by the Society Officers.

Rules and Guidelines for safe use of the river Clyde by rowers have also been drawn up by the Officers and have received the commendation of the City Council. The partnership of the Glasgow Humane Society and the Glasgow City Council is achieving great things in the field of river safety and it is hoped that there will be a wider recognition and aceptance of this safety advice as other areas and Cities realise what this partnership has achieved.

Friends of Glasgow Green would like to express their gratitude to Mr. George Parsonage for providing this information and allowing the Group to publish it here.