RNLI Thurrock

The Peregrine Legend
October 1st,1789 (St.Dogmaels church records)

"A most melancholy catastrophe happened on Cardigan river between 4 and 5 o'clock this morning. The fishermen having taken up their nets with a great quantity of herrings, were lying under shelter between little quay (old lifeboat house) and Allt y Goed farm, waiting the turn of the tide to carry them in. The wind, being then south west, blowing an easy gale. It suddenly changed to north west and blew a sort of hurricane. A most tremendous storm ensued, the sea running mountains high and carrying everthing before it and making the most terrific ravages. The fishing boats were dispersed and some thrown on the beach, some thrown on the rocks. Three more unfortunate than the rest overset and every man on board (except for four,
who providentially saved themselves by swimming) were swallowed up by the savage elements to the number of 27.The same morning two boats with 15 men were lost at Newquay."

From this true story the following legend arose. A fisherman named Peregrine lived in a terraced cottage at Cwmmins, St. Dogmaels, who was able to forecast the weather quite accurately. He was fishing for herring near Cemaes Head with his nets, and as well as herring he caught a mermaid who begged to be put back in the sea. Peregrine would have none of it and tied her up then headed back for St. Dogmaels. But as he neared the bar at the estuary he took pity on the mermaid and released her into the sea. Before swimming away she promised to tell Peregrine whenever there would be a storm approaching. Peregrine was one of the fishermen who set out on the 30th September 1789 and when his boat reached the bar, the mermaid appeared alongside and warned him of the coming storm. Peregrine heeded the mermaid's warning and tried to persuade the other fishermen to return to St. Dogmaels with him - they laughed and carried on out to sea and to disaster. Peregrine and his boat and crew returned safely to St Dogmaels Netpool.(T.Bowen)

RSPCA River Rescue

The RSPCA are operating an animal rescue/assistance craft on the Thames.

The boat is a 4.9 metre Valiant RIB which is moored at The Ahoy centre in Greenwich.
The crew is comprised of seven officers based in the London region on stand-by should the boat be needed.
The RIB has already seen action on the river, for dog rescues and a few water bird incidents, the calls in those cases coming from members of public via the RSPCA national call centre.