It has been 100 years since members of the Parsonage family took residency on the River Clyde and devoted their lives to rescuing people from the water.

Still living in his childhood home in Glasgow Green, George Parsonage continues to patrol the river every day in his rowing boat - affectionately named after him - searching for any potential signs of danger.

The 74 year-old took over as the chief officer of the Glasgow Humane Society in 1979 when his father Benjamin passed away.

"The fact that it's 100 years since my father started coming down to the river makes me quite proud, it's quite a thought", George said as he pulled the oars of the boat back and forth.

"The river has played a massive part in my life, when you are born in the lifeboat station, you've not got much choice.

"The joke used to be that we could row before we could walk.

"As soon I was old enough I was out there helping my dad and my mum worked too. It was a complete family thing."

George has spent most of his life on the river and in the boathouse with his father, learning to save the lives of those who fell in to the water in and around the city.

The family have since rescued more than 3,000 people.

He told of how his father was so dedicated to his job, the closest he got to a holiday was a day trip to Saltcoats in Ayrshire.

He said: "I don't know how my father managed 24/7, he couldn't even go on holiday with us because he was on call.

"I remember one day he tried to take my mother to the pictures and it came up on the screen that he was needed and he had to run out, even going to the hairdressers was a major operation for him.

"It's a different ball game now."

He added: "In his day, after the person had been rescued they'd normally get brought back to the house and my mother had two beds where she'd nurse them.

"In those days, although we had ambulances there wasn't radios, there wasn't the immediate call. She did a remarkable job."

The Glasgow Humane Society was founded in 1790, but it wasn't until 1908 the Parsonage family took charge.

George's father, Benjamin, lived at the corner of Nuneaton Street and Baltic Street in Bridgeton and went to Strathclyde School.

After a few jobs, he served his time as a boilermaker in the shipyards but all of his spare time was spent at the George Geddes Boat Hiring Station at the Humane Society in Glasgow Green.

George, who lives with his wife, Stephanie, and two sons, believes when his father took over the society, it turned into an "unbelievable rescue service" as it coincided with the time motor cars were introduced - which made it easier to reach those who needed help.

Over the years, it's evolved from being an on call rescue service to one that focuses on the preventing people from falling into the river, through the provision of quayside ladders and lifebelts. George also spends a lot of time educating others about water safety.

George said: "The one thing that has stayed constant is the work towards prevention because the more accidents you see, the more you want to stop the next one from happening."

"I'm not on call now the way my father was, the whole rescue aspect has been handed over to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. I was lucky, I could go out for a meal because by time I took charge I had a pager."

Before taking on the role of the chief officer, George worked as an art teacher, and spent his free time and weekends with the Humane Society. He didn't have to think twice about taking on the role from his father.

"My father was an incredible person, not just because he was my dad but he was the gaffer. If I've done half of what he's done I'm a lucky man," George said with a smile.

William Graham, who was formerly in the army for 12 years, has been working alongside George for the past three years as his assistant officer.

He said: "I love my job, I work about six days a week and it's very rewarding.

"Working alongside George is great, everyday is a learning day - he know everything and anything about the river. The job is massive and I feel proud to have a job that has so much history behind it."

He added: "I think George is a giant among men."