H is for Humane Society
A lone oarsman passes the Humane Society with the 'Deid Hoose' in the background (Glasgow Museums)
The Glasgow Humane Society is a charitable organisation based on Glasgow Green dedicated to promoting water safety and preventing drowning. They provide rescue and recovery services for people in distress in the waterways throughout the Glasgow area and along the River Clyde; advise councils, emergency services, universities and schools, businesses, and riverside users; and work to educate the public about water safety and accident prevention. The Society relies on the support of volunteers and donations from the public to carry out its work.
Established in 1790 by members of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and local businessmen, the Society is the oldest practical lifesaving organisation in the world. In 1795 funds were acquired for a house and boathouse on Glasgow Green to accommodate a full-time officer. The building, which doubled as a morgue for recovered bodies, was ghoulishly nicknamed the 'Deid Hoose' by Glaswegians.
The Clyde was a busier waterway at this time - numerous working and recreational boats bustled up and down the river. There were no barriers along the banks or lifebuoys. The lack of safe swimming spots meant those who entered the water voluntarily risked unpredictable currents, being run down by river traffic, or entanglement in underwater hazards. Many couldn't swim at all, and drownings and accidents were frequent.
The history of the Society is dominated by two dynasties - the Geddes family (James, John, George I and George II), society officers and assistant officers from 1841 - 1932, succeeded by the Parsonage family (Ben and son, George) from 1932 till 2019. Both families were, and (in the case of the Parsonage family) still are, active in competitive rowing. Various members of the Geddes regularly pop up in dispatches from the trades regattas, and George Geddes II even travelled to Paris in 1900 to compete in an international competition for lifesaving societies, bringing home the gold. George Parsonage rowed for Clydesdale ARC for many years and (along with Duncan Paterson) holds the record of winning the most regattas in the club's history. His sons are members of the Strathclyde University Boat Club.
George Parsonage, former Humane Society Officer and former Clydesdale ARC member (centre) with son Ben (right) and Glasgow RC Team GB rower Sam Scrimgeour (right)
The women of the family were also involved in the sport. In 1883, George Geddes' wife Mary founded the Glasgow Ladies Rowing Club - the first of its kind on the Clyde. The news was positively reviewed in The Scottish Referee at the time, 'encouragement should be given to this branch of athletics for our girls … I am in favour of every girl acquiring the art of rowing'. Stephanie Parsonage, married to George, is a former international rower, whom he met when she capsized while training on the Clyde.
The Geddes family were also boatbuilders, boat hirers and oar makers, supplying the Victorian rowing community. The Parsonage family continued this tradition of tweaking and innovating boat design, though the objective was stability rather than speed. The Bennie, a lifeboat custom-designed by Benjamin "Bennie" Parsonage, is on display in the Riverside Museum. Several of the Society's boats are replicas of the Bennie, as it is the fastest boat that can still be tipped far enough to allow a person to be lifted over the side.
The current Society officer is William Graham, taking over from Dr George Parsonage (MBE), who retired in 2019 after forty years of service and the rescue of hundreds of people from the river.
