Our #thameschristmascountdown continues with Ken Dodd chatting to Des O'Connor from 1989. | Thames TV Archive

Today marks 30 years since 51 people tragically lost their lives on the River Thames after the Marchioness pleasure boat sank, following a collision with the dredger Bowbelle. Following the recommendations of the inquiry into the disaster, the RNLI’s rescue service began on the Thames in January 2002, with lifeboats stationed at Teddington, Chiswick, Tower (Waterloo Bridge) and Gravesend. In the 17 years since, our lifeboats on the Thames have launched 14,906 times, saved 580 lives and aided 4,9