RNLI Lifeboat Magazine – Summer 2022 Issue – Southern England and Channel Islands by Royal National Lifeboat Institution

| ISSUE 640 | SUMMER 2022

THANK YOU Celebrating HM The Queen’s 70 years as RNLI Patron

EPIC MEDAL RESCUE

It really was a dark and stormy night …

ENGINEERING YOU TRUST

You power our crew with passion, talent and kindness

Welcome Could you be on the lifeboat crew?

Photo: David Branigan/Oceansport

Picture yourself out on the water on a lifeboat training exercise at the end of a summer’s day, with your crewmates. Of course the test comes when your pager goes off at 2am in a winter storm. It’s not for everyone! Just because most of us aren’t operational crew, it doesn’t mean we’re not part of the wider RNLI crew. As Patron, Her Majesty The Queen has steered the RNLI ship for 70 years (page 24). Who would tell The Queen that she isn’t part of the crew! By supporting the RNLI – month after month, year after year – you’re part of the crew too. You’re actively protecting the lifeboat volunteers, ensuring they can come home safely after epic rescues like the one at Salcombe (page 10). And you’re funding the top-notch RNLI engineering talent that the crews rely on (page 18). The RNLI lifesavers couldn’t do it without you. They’d be the first to say you’re part of their crew, day and night, come rain or shine. Thank you for answering the call for help.

Bethany Hope Email: lifeboat@rnli.org.uk

SUMMER 2022 ISSUE 640 © RNLI 2022. All rights reserved. Reproduction is permitted with the prior consent of the RNLI. Opinions expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Care is taken to ensure that editorial information is correct at the time of going to press but is subject to change. Chair: Stuart Popham Chief Executive: Mark Dowie Lifeboat Editor: Bethany Hope Lifeboat Design: Stacey Grove, David Constant Front cover colourised photograph: HM The Queen meets the crew at Newhaven in 1962

CONTACT US If you have any enquiries – or would prefer not to receive Lifeboat magazine – please email us at: supporterexperience@rnli.org.uk. Alternatively, please call 0300 300 9990 (from the UK), 01 511 9836 (from Ireland) or +44 1202 663234 (from any other country), or write to us at RNLI Support Centre, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ. Blind and partially sighted people can choose to receive a free CD or mp3 of the magazine as well as print.

2 Lifeboat summer 2022

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. We do so by providing a rescue service, safety education, and supervision on beaches. We also influence other organisations, policy-makers and regulators. Our crews and lifeguards have saved over 143,500 lives since the RNLI was formed in 1824. Our Water Safety teams help keep people safe at the coast and our International teams work to reduce drowning around the world where it’s a major risk. We are independent from government and rely on voluntary contributions and gifts in Wills for income. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (CHY 2678 and 20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man (1308 and 006329F), the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney

Lifeboat summer 2022 2

In this issue 8

REGULARS

IN DEPTH

RESCUE

4 NEWS

18 BRINGING OUR PEOPLE

8 RESCUE ROUND-UP

2021 round up, anniversary plans and tasty snacks

GIVE IT A GO

BOOKS

Kayaking

36 40

Good reads

SPECIAL DELIVERY Your letters

RNLI FAMILY You’re the heart of the charity

HOME SAFE

How you power state-of-the-art RNLI engineering

24 70 YEARS OF SERVICE A big thank you to HM The Queen

UNSUNG HEROES ‘ I’ve never regretted one day volunteering for the RNLI’

Action stations

10 A DARK, HORRIBLE, HEROIC NIGHT

Two Bronze Medals for the Salcombe crew

14 RAPID RESPONSE

Lifeguard Katie battles surf to save a little girl

16 C APSIZE OFFSHORE Father and 10-year-old in sinking kayak

Lifeboat summer 2022 3

Your guide to everything RNLI

The celebration of a lifetime

4 Lifeboat summer 2022

Plymouth based Burts snacks has joined us in our mission to save every one by sharing RNLI safety messaging and raising lifesaving funds. We’ve collaborated with the south-west independent brand to create special edition RNLI packs of hand-cooked prawn cocktail crisps bearing our Float to Live message. The packaging was created in collaboration with the RNLI and chosen by the charity’s staff and volunteers. It features a stunning image of an iconic orange lifeboat. The crisps will be available to buy on Burts’ website and in selected stores in England. By purchasing an RNLI prawn cocktail pack, you can help save lives at sea. As a British family-owned independent brand, the company is incredibly proud of its heritage and success on the south-west coast of England, a natural alignment with our nearly 200-year legacy of saving lives at sea around the UK and Irish coasts.

These special edition packs feature an iconic RNLI lifeboat

2021 IN NUMBERS

The pace of planning for our 200th anniversary is now ramping up, with 24 programmes spanning all nations. We’re excited to share that a special 200-episode podcast, 200 Voices, is in production. We’re capturing voices that reflect our past, shine a light on our current stories and help us look to the future and what lifesaving could look like in the next 200 years. And we’ll be releasing an episode a day for the 200 days leading up to our official anniversary on Monday 4 March 2024. In March 2024, we’ll host an extra special commemoration event in London, livestreamed so everyone can share this really special moment. Stay tuned for more information on this. And we’ve got some really exciting plans coming together with our heritage programme, working with museums including Manx and National Maritime Museum: immersive exhibitions that bring to life some of our incredible stories, showcasing unseen heritage items, exploring how lifesaving has changed over the last 200 years and imagining what the future holds. In May 2024, we’ll host a spectacular open day at RNLI College in Poole, Dorset. This will offer supporters a chance to meet our lifesavers – from fundraisers, through to our lifeguards and lifeboat crew. We’ll also be hosting a flotilla of our lifesaving craft at Poole Quay.

SNACK TO SAVE LIVES

Thank you for all your lifesaving support last year. Here’s what we achieved together:

53,665

PEOPLE AIDED BY RNLI CREWS AND LIFEGUARDS (33,546 in 2020)

NEWS

STRENGTH IN PARTNERSHIPS Boost for international work We’re thrilled to share that the Isle of Man Government has allocated international development funding towards RNLI international work. These funds will help prevent drowning in some of the hardest hit countries, in support of our vision to save every one. In 2019, we received a grant from the Isle of Man Government’s International Development Fund. The generous support from the Isle of Man meant that over 10,000 children aged 6–10 in rural Bangladesh successfully completed a survival swimming course. And now the RNLI has been awarded a second small grant from the Isle of Man Government to help keep even more children safe from drowning in Bangladesh in 2022 and 2023. In the Barishal Division, where 8 children drown every day, this funding will help keep safe up to 1,200 children aged 1–4 in community-run creches. The Isle of Man Government has a long tradition of providing assistance to those in need and has been funding international development projects for more than 30 years. We’re proud to be partnering with them in this vital effort to save more families from the tragedy of drowning.

8,868

LIFEBOAT LAUNCHES

(8,254 in 2020)

27.5M PEOPLE REACHED

Members of the Black Swimming Association and friends visit the RNLI Sea Survival Pool

PEOPLE AIDED EACH DAY ON AVERAGE BY LIFEBOAT VOLUNTEERS (23 in 2020)

WITH FLOAT TO LIVE OR FAMILY SAFETY MESSAGES

408

LIVES SAVED BY RNLI CREWS AND LIFEGUARDS (349 in 2020)

9,000+

CHILDREN TOOK PART IN SWIM SAFE Lifeboat summer 2022 5

Photos: Syed Naem, RNLI/(Justyn Smith, Nathan Williams)

Keeping more children safe from drowning in Bangladesh

The RNLI’s partnership with the Black Swimming Association (BSA) is going from strength to strength, with a shared commitment to water safety and drowning prevention education. By working with partners like the BSA, we know we can reach more people with our safety messages and help fulfil our vision to save every one. The next step in our lifesaving journey is undertaking further Float to Live research with the BSA, alongside colleagues at the University of Portsmouth. Float to Live remains a key water safety message and we know it has saved lives. We’ll learn more about the myths that surround ethnicity and floating, gather vital data and gain crucial insights into cultural and social issues that make up the lived experience of our target communities. The BSA is taking the lead on the recruitment, education, support and management of research participants. They will be recruiting participants from African, Caribbean, and Asian communities in London, Birmingham and Leeds.

SOUTHERN ENGLAND AND CHANNEL ISLANDS

Welcome to your selection of community news for Southern England and the Channel Islands. For all the latest from where you are, head to RNLI.org/news Torbay

Calshot

Kilimanjaro challenge Torbay RNLI is preparing to say ‘calm winds and fair seas’ to several of its longstanding volunteers, who together have accumulated an incredible volunteering record of over 220 years. To go out with a bang, the station has launched its Kilimanjaro Challenge 2023. The entire crew will attempt feats that push them beyond their comfort zone. The six sequential challenges from May 2022 to February 2023 include: skydiving, endurance swimming, cycling, rowing, driving, and finally hiking to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Also retiring from service in the next few years, and taking part in a number of challenges in 2022, is Coxswain Mark Criddle OBE. Mark has volunteered since 1988 – becoming full-time coxswain in 2005 – and is one of the RNLI’s most decorated and experienced coxswains. Crew Member Ian 'Barney' Barnaby says: ‘We’re reaching out to our local Torbay community, both individuals and businesses, and to wider regional supporters. You can follow our progress through Torbay RNLI’s social media channels, and to donate to our cause visit justgiving.com/campaign/RNLITorbayKili23.’

The eight Kilimanjaro climbers in their RNLI kit aboard the lifeboat

6 Lifeboat summer 2022

Fawley Infant School Teacher Daniel Spiers (centre) with Calshot Crew Members Darren Taylor (left) and Kelley Leonard (right)

Throw open the doors! Calshot Lifeboat Station are delighted to be able to reopen to visitors after a 2-year absence due to the pandemic. Staff and children from Reception and Year 2 classes at nearby Fawley Infant School were first in. On a glorious spring day, they found out about RNLI lifesaving, saw the equipment and learned vital water safety messages. Fawley Infant School Teacher Daniel Spiers says: ‘The children loved meeting all the volunteers, getting to go on the boats and hearing all about the amazing work that you do. It was a wonderful experience, well managed and informative for all the children.’ Calshot Lifeboat Visits and Deputy Press Officer Justyn Leonard adds: ‘Today was very special for everyone at Calshot – finally being able to open our doors and welcome visitors back into the station in a safe and secure environment has been a long time coming. We’re looking forward to welcoming many more members of the local community into the station in the weeks and months ahead.’

COMMUNITY NEWS

Whitstable

CAR PARKING CREW Volunteers from Whitstable RNLI briefly became parking attendants in spring, by taking part in a charity car parking scheme at Whitstable Junior School in the town centre. With the scheme, local charities take it in turns to run weekend and holiday-time parking at the school. Motorists make a donation, split between the charity and the school. Whitstable Fundraising Chair Kellie Gray says: ‘It all worked really well for us and we took around £518, of which 50% goes to the school. We were also able to meet and interact with visitors. We hope that, on future occasions, especially in the summer months, we will also be able to get over the water safety messages and perhaps sell some RNLI souvenirs.’

Crew Member Richard Monje and Rosie the dog, Helm Andy Mayo and Fundraising Chair Kellie Gray ready for business

WHAT’S ON Here’s your quick guide to events happening in your area. Details might have changed since going to print, so please check in advance to avoid disappointment. To find out what else is on near you, visit RNLI.org/events.

AYLESBURY AND DISTRICT BRANCH QUIZ

Fowey

Bedgrove Community Centre, Aylesbury Saturday 18 June, 2–4pm

Join Aylesbury and District Branch for a quiz and raffle afternoon to raise lifesaving funds. Refreshments provided. £5 per team member (maximum six per team). To book, please contact Rebecca Greenway on 01296 421982 or rebecca.greenway@sky.com.

BLUE LIGHT DAY

Mudeford Quay, Christchurch Sunday 24 July, 10.30am–4pm

A condemned lifejacket with corroded cylinder

Lifejacket clinic finds over 50% unsafe Fowey RNLI held a lifejacket clinic in March, with a team from Plymouth-based Ocean Safety Ltd and they raised £707.51 from donations on the day. Of 169 lifejackets, over 50% needed a critical safety part replacing – meaning that had they been used in an emergency, they may not have worked and could potentially have caused loss of life. Fowey Lifeboat Operations Manager Chris Ogg says: ‘It was eye-opening to see the terrible condition of some of them. Your lifejacket may save your life one day, but only if you maintain it properly.' Read our advice on lifejackets at RNLI.org/safety.

Come along to learn more about local partner search and rescue organisations, including National Coastwatch and Wessex Blood Bikes. The RNLI will be present with cakes, souvenirs, games and more. For more information, contact Adele Orr on 07593 785374.

TORBAY LIFEBOAT PROMS IN THE GARDEN Berry Head Hotel, Berry Head Road, Brixham Sunday 10 July, 7–10pm

Come and enjoy a fantastic evening in the Berry Head Hotel's beautiful walled garden setting, with music from the Concert Band of Britannia Royal Naval College. Drinks will be available to purchase, as well as a barbecue meal during the interval. Tickets are £20 from ticketlab.co.uk, or contact Peter Thorp on 01803 855329 or rnlitlf@gmail.com. Do you want to share your RNLI news and events with other Lifeboat readers in your area? Please email supporterexperience@rnli.org.uk. Photos: RNLI/(Fowey, Justyn Leonard, Kim Mayo, Nigel Millard) Lifeboat summer 2022 7

As a supporter, you are helping our lifeboat crews and lifeguards carry out thousands of rescues every year. Here are some highlights, and you can read full accounts of other rescues on the following pages:

7 SALCOMBE | PAGE 10 8 COLDINGHAM SANDS | PAGE 14 9 CARDIGAN AND NEW QUAY | PAGE 16 9

You can also watch and read the latest rescues online at RNLI.org/news or facebook.com/RNLI.

1 FIRST OF THE YEAR

2 POINT BREAK

HELVICK HEAD | 12 JANUARY

SWANAGE | 28 JANUARY

In their first call out of 2022, the crew launched to rescue two fishermen. The 9m fishing boat had broken down at Ballyvoyle, close to Clonea Beach. Within minutes, the crew of four in their inshore lifeboat arrived on scene. They discovered that the boat had engine failure and towed the vessel safely back to shore.

When a climber broke her ankle part way up a cliff near Anvil Point, Coastguard cliff rescue teams lowered her gently on to rocks below and our crew helped secure her into a stretcher. The woman was assessed, given pain relief and taken onboard the inshore lifeboat. After a rapid transfer to the all-weather lifeboat, the crew delivered her to the air ambulance ashore.

8 Lifeboat summer 2022

SNAPSHOTS

3 SHIPSHAPE AFTER SERVICE

4 ADRIFT IN A FORCE 8

SHEERNESS | 17 JANUARY

DOUGLAS | 11 NOVEMBER

The volunteers launched in the early hours to two men on a Dutch barge. The boat had lost power and was stranded in the Thames Estuary. After towing the craft to safety at Queenborough Harbour, the crew headed to Gillingham Marina where their Shannon lifeboat was hauled out for her first deep clean and inspection since its arrival in July 2021.

Launching into challenging conditions, the all-weather crew headed for a fishing vessel that had suffered an engine fire. The fishing crew had extinguished the flames and were unhurt, but had drifted miles off course. Once located, the lifeboat crew took them under tow. With force 8 winds and strong tides, it was a slow trip back to harbour.

5 NARROW ESCAPE

6 EARLY MORNING MEDICAL

KYLE OF LOCHALSH AND MALLAIG | 2 FEBRUARY

HARTLEPOOL | 3 FEBRUARY

Both crews were called when a vessel ran aground in the Kylerhea Narrows on the Isle of Skye. Kyle RNLI put a crew member onboard the vessel to check she was not taking on water. Mallaig crew then set up a tow and refloated her – whereupon her crew were able restart their engine and safely reach Loch Alsh under escort.

Volunteers were paged at 5am when a fishing vessel 30 miles off Hartlepool called in for medical assistance for a sick crew member. A rescue helicopter paramedic reached the scene ahead of our crew and checked the casualty was fit to stay onboard for the journey home. The all-weather lifeboat crew then escorted them into Hartlepool, arriving just before 10am.

Photos: RNLI/(Vic Booth, Jamie Breathnach, Tom Collins, Mike Howland, Andrew MacDonald, Becky Mack) Lifeboat summer 2022 9

A dark, horrible, heroic night Salcombe lifeboat volunteers battle the elements to rescue two sailors trapped in horrendous conditions 3.55am on 21 December 2020. Two sailors were in a desperate situation off the coast of Devon. The 7.5m yacht they were on had run aground. With gale-force winds at 34–40 knots, severe squalls and driving rain, the men were in real danger. In nearby Salcombe, full-time Coxswain/Mechanic Chris Winzar was in bed when his pager went off. ‘It was a very dark, windy night with horizontal rain. Normally, when it's blowing like that and the pager goes off, you think you’re going mid-channel for something commercial in trouble. When the DLA [deputy launching authority] told me it was a yacht aground I thought he was joking. There’s no way there’s a yacht out there in this weather.’ ‘It was a horrible night,’ says Deputy Second Coxswain Richard ‘Tricky’ Clayton. ‘My house is at the top of a hill in Salcombe and it was horrendous just getting in the car and down to the station.’ They joined other volunteers at the lifeboat station. ‘It’s always a shock when you’re woken up in the middle of the night,’ says Crew Member Iain Dundas. ‘You end up with clothes on backwards, everyone at the station 10 Lifeboat summer 2022

with a variety of different types of clothing on. It can be a strange sight.’ Kitted up in RNLI gear and ready to go, the Salcombe crew launched their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat The Baltic Exchange III. ‘It’s always a bit of trepidation launching when it’s rough weather and it’s dark,’ says Iain. ‘When you can’t see the waves coming, it’s always a bit more nerve-wracking.’

‘ We were 35–40 metres off the rocks and you couldn’t see the coastline, it was that bad’ CHRIS WINZAR

COXSWAIN | SALCOMBE

They reached the reported location of the casualty. Coastguard teams and a helicopter were already on scene searching, but had been unable to find them. Visibility was poor. ‘We were 35–40 metres off the rocks and you couldn’t see the coastline, it was that bad,’ says Chris. A tough call to make ‘We had the floodlights out, but in that sort of weather with the horizontal rain, it just refracts off the water. I don’t

know whether the casualties found their VHF or put out a mayday, but that put us right on a line to them. So we knew they were there on the rocks, but we still couldn’t see them. And it was too windy and dangerous for the helicopter to come in closer.’ The shallow water meant that approaching the casualty’s position on the all-weather lifeboat would be impossible. There was only one solution remaining – the small inflatable dinghy that's carried aboard. ‘In that situation, you wouldn’t normally launch the Y boat,’ explaina Chris. ‘But it was the only way of saving those lives. It was a tall order for the two going into the Y boat. I asked for volunteers, and Tricky and Iain stepped up straight away.’ ‘I’m quite comfortable in that boat, quite confident in it,’ says Tricky. ‘I felt I could do it or at least have a closer look.’ ‘By this time you could hear the casualties crying out for help over the VHF. It was a risky decision, and the coxswain put it out to us if we wanted to do it,’ says Iain. ‘Being two of the more experienced crew, we were probably best suited for the boat.’ Into the squall The lifeboat crew launched the Y boat into the water, with Tricky at

RESCUE

Lifesavers in this Bronze Medal rescue: Chris Winzar, Richard ‘Tricky’ Clayton and Iain Dundas

Salcombe Tamar class lifeboat The Baltic Exchange III Lifeboat summer 2022 11

THE CREW Chris Winzar Richard ‘Tricky’ Clayton Iain Dundas Chris Kemp Chris Roberts Andy Wheeler Rich Park Mike Wrigley (Duty Deputy Launching Authority) Dave Dancox (Shore Crew) Doug O'Malley (Shore Crew) Charlotte Savege (Shore Crew) The Salcombe crew accept the medals on behalf of the whole station

in df or ce

7– 8

All-weather lifeboat

Severe rain squalls FRESHWATER BAY Y boat

Casualty

Treacherous rocks at Freshwater Bay

12 Lifeboat summer 2022

the helm and Iain at the front of the small dinghy. Launching the Y boat was one thing. The next was to try and get close enough to get eyes on the casualty vessel. The grounded yacht was stuck in a gully created by rocks on one side, the sheer cliff face on the other. This, when combined with the weather conditions, meant the yacht couldn’t be seen from outside. Tricky and Iain had to get in that gully to find it. ‘I was trying to focus on the coastline to see what the waves were doing,’ says Tricky. ‘My main fear going in was what’s underneath us, because you couldn’t see. My theory was the yacht got in there, so we must be able to. ‘I was about to go for it when a couple of decent sized breakers came in, so I had to back off. As soon as the breakers had gone through, it went calm just for a second. I thought this was it, at least I can get through to the yacht.’ ‘It was definitely quite scary. The waves were big, it was pitch black, and we only had a torch to see by,’ says Iain. ‘We couldn’t even see the yacht until we were 10 feet away from it.’ The yacht had begun to break apart. Bashed against the rocks, the mast had

RESCUE

‘My main fear going in was what’s underneath us, because you couldn’t see.’ TRICKY

DEPUTY SECOND COXSWAIN | SALCOMBE

snapped, most of the railings had been destroyed and the deck swamped. It was almost completely underwater, with the two casualties clinging onto the bow. ‘As soon as they saw us, they started shouting and screaming,’ says Tricky. ‘I saw an opportunity to stick the Y boat right onto the bow.’ ‘I just yanked them onto the Y boat, face down,’ says Iain. ‘I think I actually picked one of them up, pulled them over the railings and down onto the other.’ ‘If Iain had pulled any harder, he would have thrown them out to the lifeboat in the bay!’ says Tricky. With the casualties onboard, Tricky now had to get them back out of the gully. ‘The main risk was turning the boat around in a very narrow gap,’ he says. ‘It was all a blur really, it was so quick. I got the thing back round and out. Didn’t look back.’ ‘The conditions were absolutely terrible,’ says Iain. ‘The waves were coming in, hitting the rocks, bouncing back. But you don’t think about it. You just think about getting them off safely. That’s it.’ Relief It was an anxious wait back on the lifeboat. ‘If they had got into trouble, the only help would have been the Y boat aboard the Torbay lifeboat, which was at least an hour away,’ says Chris. Spotting the Y boat emerge from the darkness with four people onboard brought immense relief. ‘Until Tricky and Iain came back, I still didn’t

believe that there was a yacht in there,’ says Chris. The two casualties were taken aboard. ‘One of the casualties sounded drunk. But we soon realised that he was diabetic,’ says Tricky. ‘He didn’t have much longer before he was going to have an attack. Thankfully he had his medicine on him.’ The crew took the casualties inside the wheelhouse and started to get them warm. The Y boat was quickly brought back onboard. Chris, at the helm of the Tamar class lifeboat, headed for home. Thankfully, the journey back was a lot smoother than the journey out. Back at the station, the two casualties were given a hot shower and assessed by paramedics, before retiring to a room in the local pub to recover. ‘It didn’t really sink in until we got back to the station,’ says Chris. ‘Then you think, “Crikey that was a full-on job”. We didn’t get back until about 7am. Then the crew all had to disappear and go to work.’ Bravery Almost exactly a year later, at the Salcombe Lifeboat Christmas Party, the announcement was made to the volunteers that Iain and Tricky would be awarded Bronze Medals for their gallantry during the rescue. Chris would be accorded the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for his expert handling of the lifeboat in the atrocious conditions. ‘I had completely forgotten about the rescue,’ says Iain. ‘It took me by surprise. Everybody’s really happy. It’s a good accolade for the station.’ ‘It is a station effort, right through from the fundraisers to the husbands and wives who let us do it,’ says Tricky. ‘We wouldn’t be out there if it wasn’t for everyone else.’ ‘Everybody on the boat did their job that night and everybody who responded to the pager and turned

A HISTORY OF COURAGE The volunteers at Salcombe have a long history of courageous rescues. In fact, since the station first opened in 1869, 18 awards for gallantry have been given to Salcombe volunteers. The most recent Bronze Medal was awarded in 1992 to Coxswain/Mechanic Frank Yeoman Smith, for his involvement in the rescue of a 1,200 ton coaster Janet C. Frank and his crew used a tow to hold the vessel off rocks for 3 hours in gale-force winds and a heavy sea, before a tug could come along and relieve the lifeboat. Salcombe lifeboat also has the distinction of having carried out the last war service in 1945, when it went to the aid of a Norwegian minesweeper that had been blown up.

Coxswain Frank Yeoman Smith

up at the station, was involved,’ says Chris. ‘The shore crew assisting the boat getting away and coming back. There’s a lot of people and we accept the recognition for the whole station.’ ■

Words: James Dwyer Photos: Nicholas Leach, RNLI/(Salcombe, Nathan Williams), Shutterstock Lifeboat summer 2022 13

There’s no denying it – waves are lots of fun. But for one little girl, a big swell meant things got very serious, very quickly When the waves tickle the shoreline at Coldingham Sands, Berwickshire, beachgoers young and old are drawn to the water’s edge for a paddle and a play. 6 August 2021, and the sun was out, bringing families to the beach. The wind was up too, though, and Coldingham’s RNLI lifeguards had had a busy morning, giving advice to parents and kids, and regularly moving the red-and-yellow flags as the dangerous currents changed with the tide and weather conditions. Katie Walker was one of the lifeguards on duty that day. ‘It was midway through my lunchbreak,’ she says, ‘but I was keeping an eye on one young girl who was jumping in the waves. Each time she jumped, the current was pulling her further out.’ Good advice The girl was trying to stay between the flags, but was quickly out of her depth. A family friend shouted to the girl to stay calm and float on her back. The big sets of waves kept coming. She did her best to be brave, keep her cool and stay afloat, but she was being pulled ever further out into the bay. 14 Lifeboat summer 2022

Seeing the girl struggle, Katie knew she had no time to waste. A bystander watched the rescue unfold. ‘The lifeguard was straight on her radio, coat off,’ he recalls. ‘She picked up her rescue board and headed straight into the sea. She made quick progress.’ Training pays off Sheer strength and skill make it look easy for an RNLI lifeguard to take on conditions that would sweep most of us off our feet. ‘It’s always tough going out through big waves like that,’ says Katie, ‘but I’ve been a lifeguard for 5 years and it’s something that becomes second nature. We do quite a lot of training.’ When battling surf becomes ‘second nature’, it’s easier to stay calm and, in turn, to calm down a frightened casualty. ‘The little girl was quite scared and shocked when I first got to her,’ says Katie. ‘She was very quiet. I told her it would be OK and to catch her breath. ‘I got her onto the rescue board and caught a wave back in. It wasn’t until we got onto the sand and she saw her mum that she got a bit upset.’

‘ I’ve been a lifeguard for 5 years and it’s something that becomes second nature. We do quite a lot of training.’ KATIE WALKER

LIFEGUARD | COLDINGHAM SANDS

Lifeguards on duty at Coldingham Lifeguard Unit

RESCUE As is so often the case, the girl was able to let the emotion out once she felt safe. ‘I spoke to her and her mum,’ says Katie, ‘to underline the message that Float to Live is the best thing to do if you get into trouble in the water. And that you should always keep an eye on the flags, because it’s easy not to see how far you’ve drifted. ‘It’s always strange how your training kicks in. You’re immediately planning your route, how you’re going to get out to the casualty and how you’re going to bring them back. How you’re going to use the currents. Working out the steps.’ You’re the lifesaver That automatic response, which has saved thousands of lives over the years,

is down to intensive training. And that’s only possible thanks to your kind support. ‘Thank you,’ Katie says. ‘I’m very proud that I’m a lifeguard and I’m able to help people like this. The training you help provide makes it second nature to act in an emergency. And we all need to keep going with spreading the Float to Live message and making sure people are aware of the dangers of the water.’ We’re sure the little girl’s parents are also grateful every day to her lifesavers – to Katie, to the family friend who shouted advice on the day, and to you. ■

FLOAT TO LIVE If you find yourself in trouble in the water, don’t panic. Remember: Float to Live. • Fight your instinct to thrash around. • Lean back, and extend your arms and legs into the shape of a starfish. • Gently move your arms and legs to help you float. • Float like this until you’ve got your breathing under control. • Only call for help, or try to swim to safety, once you can control your breathing. This advice saves lives. In this rescue, the little girl’s attempts to stay calm and float helped keep her head above water until Katie could get to her. Find more tips at RNLI.org/beach.

Words: Mairéad Dwane Photos: RNLI/Nick Mailer Lifeboat summer 2022 15

Inset photos from the rescue: New Quay all-weather lifeboat (top) heading out to the two capsized kayakers and (bottom) the lifeguards and Cardigan inshore lifeboat at Tresaith

Paddlers train for capsize. But nothing quite prepares you for a kayak sinking beneath you, 800m offshore – and your child beside you in the water A father and 10-year-old child set off from Tresaith Beach in Cardigan Bay in an open kayak early in September 2020. Before long, force 4–5 easterly winds pulled them 800m offshore and chop of around 2m capsized them out of the kayak. Senior Lifeguard Lowri Davies recalls: ‘I was on patrol at the water’s edge when I saw the canoe go further out at a very fast pace and then suddenly capsize, meaning the two 16 Lifeboat summer 2022

paddlers were now in the very cold, choppy and dangerous water.’ Struggling to right and empty the kayak, the father and child quickly became exhausted. Lowri knew that the father and son were at risk of cold water shock and drowning. She also was aware that if any of her team entered the water, sea and winds would prevent them from getting back safely. Faced with an urgent decision, she radioed to inform

her team of the incident, then called the Coastguard. The Coastguard tasked flanking lifeboat stations New Quay and Cardigan to assist, along with the Cardigan Coastguard Rescue Team and HM Coastguard rescue helicopter from St Athan. Turning back to her team, Lowri found Lifeguard Supervisor Sam Bailey and Lifeguard Macsen Mather willing and ready to do what they could to save

HOW TRAINING SAVES LIVES

LOWRI DAVIES

RNLI SENIOR LIFEGUARD | CARDIGAN BAY

the father and child. Sam volunteered to make the 600m paddle out to the casualties to keep them afloat and act as a marker for the lifeboat. Macsen offered to assist Sam. ‘I had full confidence that Sam and Macsen had the strength and skills to carry out the rescue. They’d both done many rescues before. I made sure they had appropriate equipment and were feeling well – we knew they’d be in the cold water for a while.’ As Sam and Macsen paddled out at speed, Lowri coordinated the rescue from shore. Reaching the kayakers, Sam and Macsen pulled them onto their rescue boards, keeping them close, safe and visible. Lowri says: ‘Having Sam and Macsen out on the rescue boards meant the casualties’ heads were kept safely above the water until the lifeboat arrived. It also made them more identifiable between the waves, acting as a visible target for the searching crew.’ Bit-by-bit, the sea pulled all four of them further out. Meanwhile, the volunteer Cardigan crew were launching their Atlantic 85 lifeboat Albatross. Navigator Clare Wilding recalls: ‘We were direct paged from Milford Haven Coastguard at 5.34pm and launched at 5.48pm with Andrew Phillips as helm, Simon

‘All of our training, skills, practice and experience come together in a rescue like this. Lifeguards go through training and tests before each season starts, to ensure our skills and knowledge are up to standard. We also train regularly as a team, in first aid and fitness. ‘As senior lifeguard, I’ve done additional training, including:

Mansfield on comms, me as navigator and Stewart Towe as the fourth crew. ‘There was a lot of spray, making search conditions very difficult, but we made good speed.’ Arriving on scene within 12 minutes, the crew found lifeguards and casualties 11/2 miles offshore.

‘ The lifeguards entered the water to save lives, in the full knowledge that they would be unable to return to shore’ ROGER SMITH

RNLI AREA LIFESAVING MANAGER

‘The casualties were cold and shaken,' says Claire. 'The father was clearly very concerned, the child shocked. The lifeguards were doing a great job looking after them – but also looked pretty exhausted! ‘We pulled them all into the lifeboat and took them to Tresaith Beach, where we transferred the casualties into the safe hands of the Coastguard.' Arriving on scene shortly after Cardigan lifeboat, the New Quay crew on their all-weather lifeboat Frank and

• Operational Leadership course, where we learned how to lead and manage a team in difficult scenarios safely. • Operational Command course, where we learned how to respond to an emergency and coordinate the task in hand, while making wise decisions to keep ourselves, our team and the public safe.’

Lena Clifford of Stourbridge searched for the kayak to prevent it becoming a hazard, but it had already sunk! This was Lowri’s first season as senior lifeguard. Her leadership in this lifesaving rescue is testament to her hard work training for this moment. In recognition of their bravery, talent, passion and kindness, Lowri, Sam and Macsen are to receive the prestigious Alison Saunders Award. The volunteers of both lifeboat crews will receive an RNLI Framed Letter of Thanks from the Chair. RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager Roger Smith says: ‘This rescue was a superb team effort. We’re massively proud of our lifeguards, who showed great bravery and resolve during this rescue. They entered the water to save lives, in the full knowledge that they would be unable to return to shore unaided, trusting our lifeboats to back them up.’ Rescues like this are made possible by an extended RNLI family – from volunteer shore crew and fundraisers to you, reader. Your continued kindness towards our lifesavers and those who find themselves in danger around the coast keeps us able to save lives. ■ Words: Anna Burn Photos: RNLI/Nathan Williams Lifeboat summer 2022 17

For generations, RNLI volunteers have braved the roughest seas on the wildest nights, all in the spirit of saving every one. And it’s been our duty to do everything in our power to bring those volunteers home safe It takes teams of dedicated people to keep our crews safe. The trainers who give them the skills they need. The kind supporters like you who fund the service. And a whole department devoted to designing, developing, building, sourcing and maintaining all the kit our crews depend on – from the nuts and bolts holding a lifeboat together in a raging storm, to the lifejacket that will keep a volunteer afloat should they end up in the water. That RNLI department is Engineering and Supply. ‘People think it’s just about the design, and that’s only 5% of the work,’ says Head of Asset Management Neil Chaplin. ‘The other 95% is making sure that what we’ve got is safe, that it will be sustainable, that it’ll keep going through its life. That it’s maintainable and cost-effective, and that it works well for the end user. That’s what professional engineering is all about.’ At the virtual drawing board The RNLI CAD (Computer-aided Design) Team worked from home through the pandemic, designing and drawing up high-spec lifeboat components in their own living rooms. ‘We design every piece of the boat in 3D,’ says Lorena Rubio-Sabater, an RNLI Senior CAD Engineer. For the past few months, the CAD 1

Team have been working on components for the Severn Life Extension Programme. The RNLI’s Severn class lifeboat was designed for 25 years of service and first went to sea in 1996. It’s still a good lifeboat, with a strong hull that performs well in big seas, but its systems and fittings could use an update. One example is fitting the Severn with SIMS, which allows crews to manage things like engines, bilge and electrics from the safety of their seats. SIMS is already in use on the Shannon and Tamar class lifeboats, but with the Severn’s larger size and different shape, the wiring and controls need to be redrawn to fit. Shopping for a new mattress The D class lifeboat is the busiest in the RNLI’s fleet. Small and speedy, its crews can reach people in tight spots, fast. But there’s no denying it: that close to the water, it can be a bumpy ride. Senior Naval Architect Susie Webber is working on improving the D class mattress 3

– the protective layer fitted into the base of the lifeboat. ‘There are always opportunities to improve and keep our crew safe, reducing any shock loadings they’re getting,’ Susie says. ‘We need them to be at their best when they get to a casualty.’ And the list of considerations the project engineers have to take into account is staggering. ‘The crews have to be able to do casualty care,’ Susie explains, ‘so if it’s too soft it’s comfortable, but you can’t do CPR on it. We need to make sure it can be easily cleaned after first aid on an injury too. It needs to withstand saltwater. It needs to be good value for money, so we’re using donors’ money wisely. ‘We have to be mindful that we’re dealing with a boat that already exists. We don’t want to change the boat beyond what the crews have been trained for. We can’t have a suspension unit on there because it would make the boat too heavy, so that’s driven us towards a technology solution, rather than a mechanical one.’ Susie and the team researched what was on the market, selected a number of options and took them to sea for trials. One solution, Skydex, used in military operations and in high-performance trainers, performed best. RNLI engineers took the material and developed a mattress that would fit the D class lifeboat, and it’s set to be trialled at

five lifeboat stations this summer. That’s another clever consideration from the team: trialling new developments in our busiest season to maximise the amount of data we can collect. ‘Skydex is much like bubble wrap,’ Susie says, ‘but it doesn’t pop! Hemispheres sit on top of each other. As they compress, the air gives you some resistance and you get a concertina effect. It’s that air cushion that we’re essentially giving the crews.’ The current mattress was designed with the best materials at the time, but as new technologies like Skydex are developed, we can enhance crew comfort and performance. And get ever closer to saving every one. The next generation Ralphy Whiffen is in his third year as a mechanical technician apprentice at the RNLI’s All-weather Lifeboat Centre. ‘It’s a very varied role,’ he says, ‘especially as an apprentice because they move you around quite a lot so you learn as much as possible. And for one day a week I go to college where I study my NVQ for Marine Engineering.’ Ralphy has been working on fitting all of Lorena and the CAD Team’s new parts for the Severn Life Extension Programme. He’s been repairing all-weather lifeboats and servicing inshore lifeboats. On the day we spoke with him he’d just replaced a faulty alternator in the engine room of a Mersey class lifeboat. ‘With maintenance, you learn how to do it and you get used to it,’ says Ralphy.

Apprentice Ralphy says: ‘These boats are built for the worse conditions; they’re heading into the storm’

Lifeboat summer 2022 19

Fault finding and problem solving is key in RNLI engineering – lives depend on it

‘But the repair work is where it gets a little bit more interesting. That’s what college like to see as well – fault finding and problem solving. You need to show them how you would find a fault and how you would fix it. ‘There’s no cutting corners here. These boats are built for the worst conditions; they’re heading into the storm. If I have any questions, everybody is incredibly happy to help me. And once I’ve done my repair or my service, I know that I’ve done the best job I can and I know that the boat is going to be saving lives. It is a very satisfying feeling, definitely.’ The next 200 years As we approach the RNLI’s 200th birthday in 2024, we’re looking to the future more than ever. ‘My team are capable at building and operating the current fleet,’ says Engineering and Supply Director Jamie Chestnutt. 1

20 Lifeboat summer 2022

‘My focus is supporting the team in getting ready for what's coming next. ‘Sustainability and new technologies will drive change in all we do, and we may need to think differently about the way we design, build and operate our boats in the future.’ Sustainability is not just about the natural environment; it’s also about including as many people as possible in our work. So another hot topic in engineering is human factors – designing equipment and systems around people. Neil Chaplin explains: ‘We have more women on our lifeboat crews now. The size, weight and shape of people is changing, and the communities they come from are changing. How do we accommodate people who might have disabilities on our lifeboats? Or people with a learning difficulty, or a perceptual difficulty, like colour blindness? We don’t want to exclude people with great crew potential.’ In the past few years, work has been done on crew kit that’s a better shape for women, and on lifejackets that can support heavier people. Now, Neil has hired a new engineer to lead on human factors, and on making their consideration a standard part of everything the RNLI does from the outset. Jamie Chestnutt explains:‘If you go to sea as a lifesaver, you have to wear protective kit. But what if our standard clothing doesn’t fit you properly? We need to think about equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) when purchasing clothing and equipment, and also when thinking about accessibility options for shops, lifeboat stations, changing facilities and boats. If we don't think about EDI in all we do, we’re going to build or buy the wrong things.’ The feeling of doing right by people, and of being part of the rescue team, permeates the RNLI Engineering and Supply Department. Whether they’re fitting an alternator, sourcing smaller boots, exploring options for greener fuels or sitting at a CAD screen designing a front casing grille, they, like you, are in it to save every one. ■ 3

FEATURE 5

AT THE SHARP END Taking care of these amazing machines doesn’t end at the doors of the All-weather Lifeboat Centre. There’s the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Plus teams of regional engineers and in-service support staff are on call to make sure things run properly at the sharp end. Each lifeboat station has its own seagoing mechanics who take care of lifesaving equipment day to day, and out on shouts. At Dungeness, in 2014, Trevor Bunney was the first RNLI mechanic to take delivery of a Shannon class lifeboat. With waterjet propulsion, an RNLI-designed slam-reducing hull, and the new SIMS technology, the Shannon was – and still is – the pride of RNLI Engineering. ‘We’ve had the Shannon for 8 years now,’ says Trevor, ‘and it’s proving to be a very good boat. It’s a lot more technical than previous boats. As a station mechanic, you need to up your game and stay on top of the technology. ‘We’re getting on very well with the waterjets. The impellers [parts of the waterjet that suck water in] have to be in tip-top condition or you lose performance. So every 6 months the waterjets are stripped down and inspected. That’s a thing we never had to do with an “old-fashioned” propeller boat. ‘I’ve always taken this job very seriously, because the boat could go out in storm-force conditions with five other crew onboard. I’ve also got a huge sense of pride in how the boat is looked after, because it ultimately reflects on the station. ‘I’d like to say a very humble thank you to anyone who donates and provides us with this equipment. It’s an honour to take care of it, and it’s reassuring that we have the best kit to go to sea in the worst conditions.’

Engineering you can trust – the Shannon class lifeboat built at the All-weather Lifeboat Centre and The Morrell in action at Dungeness Words: Mairéad Dwane Photos: RNLI/(Nick Mailer, Nigel Millard, Ashton Milton, Nathan Williams)

Lifeboat summer 2022 21

Give it a go:

KAYAKING

Photos: British Canoeing, RNLI/Nathan Williams

Summertime is a perfect season to get out on the water, so why not give kayaking a go? We catch up with #ShePaddles Ambassador Clare Thomas, to learn how

22 Lifeboat summer 2022

GIVE IT A GO Sea kayaking has something to offer everyone – from a gentle paddle around a bay, to competitive surf kayaking. ‘The majority of people become hooked because of the sheer fun and freedom of being in a boat,’ says Clare Thomas, Ambassador for #ShePaddles and British Canoeing. ‘My love comes from the fact that I get to visit beautiful stretches of coastline only accessible by sea. ‘And beginners can now access this fantastic sport with ease, with inflatable and sit-on-top kayaks available from local shops. While great for increasing participation, if you choose this route, seek safety advice or training before going on the water. ‘A better place to start is one of the many kayak or canoe clubs in the UK and Ireland that welcome beginners to experienced paddlesports in a safe and supportive environment. ‘If clubs aren’t your scene, there are many paddlesports centres and coaches specialising in

introductory sessions. In the UK, look out for The British Canoeing Start and the Discover Paddle Awards. ‘And look for training from British Canoeing delivery partners – they’ve agreed to high standards of safety, value for money and customer service so these coaches can provide excellent experiences and fun learning opportunities.’ In Ireland, you can find clubs and centres through the Canoeing Ireland website (see below). Is my swimming skill level OK? You don’t need to be a strong swimmer – the aim is to stay with your craft. If you do find yourself in the water, your buoyancy aid will help keep you afloat. One key skill you should practise is floating – visit RNLI.org/FloatToLive. Accessible kayaking is growing in the UK and Ireland, with organisations like British Canoeing and Canoeing Ireland signposting paddlers to clubs, centres and resources. ‘Kayaking and paddlesports are awesome,’ enthuses Clare. ‘So why not give them a go – you might just love it!’

TOP TIPS FOR KAYAKERS • Always carry a means of calling for help and keep it on your person. • Wear a buoyancy aid. • Check the weather and tides. • Tell someone else where you're going and when you'll be back. • Wear appropriate clothing for the conditions and your trip. • Get some training (see below) and paddle within your limits.

FIND OUT MORE Visit RNLI.org/kayaking for more safety tips. To find clubs, training courses and advice, visit gopaddling.info or canoe.ie. For accessible kayaking, visit gopaddling.info/find-local-paddle-ability and the Accessible Paddling page on canoe.ie. Lifeboat summer 2022 23

CELEBRATING

A lot can happen in 70 years. In 1952, a small black-and-white TV set was the height of tech luxury. A pint of milk cost 4p. And the RNLI was building Liverpool class lifeboats – stable, but not self-righting

Things have come a long way since the 1950s, but some things remain the same. The courage of the RNLI’s lifeboat crews is one of those things. And another? The steadfast support and example of our Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On ascending to the throne in 1952, our young Queen took on a lot of responsibilities. And one of those was being the Patron of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It’s a role that’s been held by every reigning British monarch since King George IV in the 1820s. And it’s an important role, giving credibility and support to the lifesaving charity. The Queen has been by our side throughout her reign, granting awards for services to lifesaving, and sending her heartfelt sympathy when – sadly – we’ve lost crew members to the sea. She and her family have named lifeboats, opened stations, and given cheer, inspiration and a well-deserved sense of pride to generations of lifeboat crews.

A royal escort One memorable visit from early in Her Majesty’s reign came on 29 June 1958, when she and The Duke of Edinburgh visited Holy Island, Northumberland. RNLI lifeboat crews from Berwick and North Sunderland launched to proudly escort the royal barge. But you never know what the North Sea has in store, and duty called. The coxswain of the North Sunderland lifeboat Grace Darling spotted a broken-down motorboat with 14 people onboard and in need of help. The lifeboat crew changed course and took the motorboat, Lady Francis, under tow to the nearest safe harbour. They then returned to complete the royal escort. On arrival at Holy Island lifeboat slipway, The Queen and The Duke were welcomed ashore and into the station. Lifeboat and fundraising volunteers were presented to our Patron and her husband, on a day that lives on in many happy memories.

New lifeboats inspected The 1960s were famously a time of change, and one of those changes was in the way we use the sea. More dinghy sailors and swimmers needed help, and traditional deep-sea lifeboats were not quite right for these jobs. RNLI engineers began developing inshore lifeboats – smaller, faster craft that could reach people quickly and in shallower waters. And the staff and students at Atlantic College in South Wales were a big help in this project.

On 25 June 1965, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited Atlantic College and inspected some of these next-generation lifeboats. The D class got the royal seal of approval, and has since gone on to save 17,859 lives.

I name this lifeboat … On 17 July 1972, The Queen became the first reigning monarch to name a lifeboat. Members of the Royal British Legion had raised £51,000 towards a new Solent class lifeboat, to celebrate the Legion’s 50th anniversary. The Queen is also that charity’s Patron, and was glad to name the lifeboat The Royal British Legion Jubilee. The naming ceremony took place at the Henley Royal Regatta, some distance from the sea, and The Queen said that the unusual location showed ‘a recognition of the wonderful support which the Royal National Lifeboat Institution receives from its inland branches as well as from the coastal towns and villages’. Her Majesty’s recognition of the tireless work of the RNLI’s inland fundraisers has continued throughout her patronage. In 2019, for example, she awarded the British Empire Medal to Gordon Schofield from the Stockport Fundraising Branch. Gordon had been volunteering with the RNLI for more than 70 years. It seems even The Queen still has a little catching up to do! The Royal British Legion Jubilee lifeboat joined the relief fleet and saw service at stations around the UK. It also had spells as the official station lifeboat at Fraserburgh and Peterhead. And The Queen has named four more lifeboats since: The Scout at Hartlepool in 1977, Her Majesty The Queen at Ramsgate in 1993, Richard Cox Scott at Falmouth in 2002 and Sybil Mullen Glover at Plymouth in 2003. This year, the RNLI is honouring The Duke of Edinburgh's longstanding commitment to maritime services and a lifetime of support to The Queen by naming a new lifeboat Duke of Edinburgh.

The biggest day in training By the turn of the century, further societal change was afoot. Maritime industries were employing fewer people in the UK and Ireland, and therefore more and more lifeboat volunteers were joining the RNLI without professional seafaring experience. The RNLI established a training centre – the Lifeboat College – in Poole on the south coast

of England. Volunteers could visit from across the RNLI to immerse themselves in week-long residential courses on high-level skills from sea survival to casualty care. With a high-tech training pool, lifeboat bridge simulator, live engine workshop and fire simulation tank, the College was equipped to train lifesavers, and has been the central meeting point for the RNLI family for almost 20 years. On 28 July 2004, The Queen officially opened the College. It was a momentous occasion, with 233 coxswains and senior helms – one each from every RNLI lifeboat station – coming together in the same place, for the first time ever. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were joined by the RNLI’s President, The Duke of Kent, for a tour of the College, including a capsize demonstration in the pool. They were then welcomed aboard the new Severn class lifeboat destined for Castletownbere, Co Cork, by that station’s Coxswain, Brian O’Driscoll, for a short trip around Poole Harbour. The Queen said: ‘Having just seen some of the excellent training that is already being delivered, I am certain that the Lifeboat College will play a vital role in helping the RNLI to save even more lives.’

Some fun at Cowes ‘It wasn’t the stuffy, formal thing I’d imagined it would be. It was really nice,’ says Cowes Lifeboat Operations Manager Mark Southwell. He’s talking about 25 July 2012 – the day The Queen opened the new lifeboat station at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. ‘When you speak

A starstruck young crew member Hartlepool lifeboat naming ceremony in 1977 was part of The Queen’s Silver Jubilee, marking 25 years on the throne. Ten-year-old Robbie Maiden, the Hartlepool coxswain’s son, had the honour of meeting the special guest. ‘It was a very proud day for me, and one that I still remember,’ he says today. ‘The lifeboat crew had arranged for me to have my own RNLI Guernsey jumper and red woolly hat, so I looked like part of the crew. The Queen asked me that day if I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps. The answer was a resounding yes – and here I am today as the current coxswain!’

A 'very proud day' for 10-year-old Robbie Maiden

to The Queen, she’s genuinely interested in what you’re saying and makes you feel relaxed.’ The new station’s location meant that the lifeboat crew could get out into the Solent faster when they were needed most. The royal visitors had some fun on the day, signing the station’s lifeboat maintenance log book. The Queen signed everything off as shipshape in the space marked ‘Coxswain’, while The Duke of Edinburgh signed as ‘Mechanic’.

A life of service RNLI Chief Executive Mark Dowie says: ‘On behalf of all of the Institution’s volunteers, staff and supporters, I’d like to wish The Queen our very best on her Platinum Jubilee. Her Majesty is a vital part of our crew – inspiring us all to do everything we can for the people of this country and beyond. It’s an honour to be involved in the celebrations. We thank Her Majesty for all she has done to support the RNLI’s lifesavers throughout her reign, and look forward to her next engagement with us.’ A lot has happened in the past 70 years, and we’ve come a long way under The Queen’s patronage. Since she took the throne, RNLI lifeboats have launched 330,401 times, and saved 65,886 lives. We introduced a lifeguard service that has saved 1,796 lives. We brought jet-propelled lifeboats to the Thames, and helped other lifesaving organisations around the world with their programmes. None of this would have been possible without generous and caring supporters. People like you. And like Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. ■

Our lifesaving advances under Her Majesty The Queen’s patronage Congratulations to 4,500 front line rescue volunteers and staff from the UK, who have been awarded Platinum Jubilee Medals. RNLI Chief Executive Mark Dowie says: ‘I am delighted to see so many RNLI volunteers and staff being recognised by this prestigious award.’ On 2 June, at the start of the celebratory long weekend, Jubilee Beacons are being lit at seven RNLI lifeboat stations: Aith, Borth, Dover, Port Erin, Portrush, St Mary’s, and Staithes and Runswick. These beacons are focal points for communities to come together and celebrate this historic event – the first time a British monarch has reigned for 70 years. In May, RNLI volunteers were proud to attend Buckingham Palace garden parties – look out for photos in your autumn issue of Lifeboat magazine. Other volunteers are invited to Holyroodhouse in the summer. We're also excited about being part of the Jubilee Reflections Flotilla on 24 September 2022. The party’s not over – watch this space! Enjoy your own celebrations, and let us know what you get up to.

A day to remember: the naming ceremony of a Mersey class lifeboat for the relief fleet, called Her Majesty The Queen, at Ramsgate in 1993

1952–2022 65,886

lives saved

330,401

lifeboat launches

new classes of lifeboat joined the RNLI fleet

1970

Our first international deployment to help flood relief efforts in Bangladesh

1995

The Safety at Sea initiative is launched to ensure prevention messages reach those most in danger at sea

2001

Our first inland lifeboat station opens at Enniskillen, Lower Lough Erne

2001

RNLI lifeguards begin watching over thousands

2002

Lifeboats are placed on the River Thames

2004

RNLI College (then called the Lifeboat College) is officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen

2015

The All-weather Lifeboat Centre opens, bringing the construction, repair and maintenance of our all-weather lifeboats under one roof for the first time

Words: Mairéad Dwane Photos: RNLI, Bella West

Head out on a rather unusual rescue with the crew at Lough Swilly. In this extract from the new book Saved from the Waves, John McCarter, Lifeboat Operations Manager, describes a memorable call out to a stranded sheep My phone rang. I glanced down. It was Malin Head Coast Guard. ‘Hello?’ I answered. ‘Hi, John, we need you down at the other end of the lough,’ the coast guard said. ‘There isn’t life at risk as yet. But there’s a sheep in bother.’ A what, now? ‘Pardon?’ I replied. ‘There’s a sheep in bother,’ he repeated. I stifled a laugh. ‘Yeah, you’re having me on.’ We were used to varied shouts, from pleasure crafts in difficulty to big commercial shipping jobs, but while the area was very agricultural, we rarely got tasked with animal rescues. When they came along, it was always a surprise. ‘No, no, I’m not,’ the coast guard continued. I listened as he explained how some local fishermen had spotted the animal stuck on a ledge in a ravine at Leenan Head. The sheep wasn’t so much of an immediate problem as the farmer, who didn’t want to lose one of his prime stock. He and his family were 28 Lifeboat summer 2022

RESCUE at the top of the cliff, and looked as though they might try to retrieve it themselves. When that happened, it usually ended up with the person – or persons – in more trouble than the animal. We couldn’t have that. I paged the crew immediately, and minutes later they launched. ‘This rescue will be really exciting, but once you’ve got the sheep you’ll need to concentrate on keeping him still and quiet until you get him back to shore,’ I said. Sheep were skittish creatures at the best of times and they were big too. The last thing you wanted was one kicking and panicking in your lifeboat. It was dangerous for the crew as well as for the animal. Thankfully, when they arrived at the scene the weather wasn’t causing any problems. Approaching those cliffs in a big swell could be treacherous, but it was sunny and calm. Even more importantly, they could see the farmer and his folks were at the top of the cliff, staying put. The sight of them put the reason for the shout into perspective. If any of them had even tried to go down the cliff, sure as fate they would fall and end up hurt. The cliffs were about 300 feet high. From what I’d been told, it seemed like the sheep had gone on a little walk down them but lost its footing and slipped about 50 to 60 feet, finding itself on a ledge just above the water level. A sheep is a fairly sure-footed creature and getting down cliffsides is in its nature. But getting back up them could be another matter altogether. I imagined it was also a heck of a lot more daunting. The fishing boat that raised the alarm was still at Leenan Head, along with a kayaker. They pointed the sheep out to the lifeboat crew, and the flat, calm conditions meant the crew were able to get right up to the ledge.

‘We’ve tried to shoo it back up the cliff,’ Helm Eamonn Mahon reported. ‘But it’s not budging. Poor thing is shaking.’ ‘You’re going to have to grab hold of it,’ I said into the radio. ‘Just try not to get it in the water.’ It turned out the sheep was an adult Scottish Blackface, a hardy breed that on average weighed about 145lbs. Heavier than a barrel of beer! But if its fleece got wet, that weight would increase significantly again – and if it entered the water … well, they might lose it altogether. None of us wanted that. The first phase of the rescue seemed to go successfully. One of the crew and the kayaker had entered the water, approached the ledge and somehow had managed to gently manoeuvre the sheep into the kayak. All well and good, but now they had to get it into the lifeboat.

‘ There's a sheep in bother.’ A what, now? One of the crew, Seamus McDaid, had been assigned as sheep-grabber. He was positioned at the bow of the boat and was awaiting instruction. He had farmers in his family, so there was a chance he’d be able to draw on some of that experience. ‘He’s approaching him carefully,’ Eamonn said from the helm. ‘Trying to keep him calm.’ ‘Great,’ I said. ‘When he gets it, tell him to keep tight hold.’ For a while the radio went quiet, then it crackled back to life. ‘OK,’ said Eamonn, stifling what sounded like a laugh. ‘He’s got hold of it by its fleece.’ I could hear a bit of background noise. Turns out, the sheep wasn’t coming easy. It wasn’t a tense struggle. More a source of hilarity as Seamus tried to get the animal in his grip. He had made a few lunges but the sheep

leapt out of the way. Now that he had hold of him and had got him onto the bow, he wasn’t quite sure what to do. ‘He’s keeping tight hold of him,’ Eamonn reassured me. Truth be told, there wasn’t much more he could do. ‘Tell him to think of a sheep being sheared,’ I said. ‘Turn it on its back and hold it between his legs.’ Sheep had a notoriously hard time getting up off their backs. But if they let it get upright on its legs, it’d be off out of the boat and back in danger. Seamus just needed to get him on his back and hold tight. The radio went quiet again as Eamonn relayed my message. Messages pinged back and forth on the radio as the crew struggled to get the bemused sheep fully into the lifeboat. It seemed like the advice worked. Seamus had the sheep on its back, with his own legs locked around it. ‘We’re heading to meet its owners and hand him back now,’ Eamonn said. ‘Good work,’ I said. ‘Well done!’ The crew had managed the whole situation brilliantly and proved there really was no job too difficult or unusual for us to tackle. The harbour they’d arranged to drop the sheep off at was only 5 or 10 minutes away. The sea was still calm and the boat wasn’t likely to bounce around much, but I could guarantee that it would have felt like the longest journey of Seamus’ life. ■

Saved from the Waves Foreword by Steve Backshall

A heart-warming collection of real-life RNLI animal rescue stories. Order yours at: shop.RNLI.org/saved Price: £14.99 (hardback) Published by HarperCollins ISBN 9780008485962

Lifeboat summer 2022 29

Six of the best

Uncommon Courage

Mastering Navigation at Sea

Fastadve paced nt storyure

The Titanic Secret

by Julia Jones

by Paul Boissier

by Clive Cussler and Jack du Brul

Inspired by finding her late father’s war memorabilia in a box in the attic, Julia Jones set herself the challenge of documenting the extraordinary contribution that amateur yachtsmen made during the Second World War. The Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve was set up in 1936 to recruit ‘gentlemen, who are interested in yachting or similar pursuits’, to serve as naval officers in case of war. When war came, they were pressed into service with virtually no training. This interesting book describes their bravery, skills, endurance, and the often-perilous missions they undertook.

As a former Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy and an RNLI Chief Executive, Paul Boissier has cultivated over 40 years of expertise at sea. Navigation techniques are brought to life with practical experience and insightful commentary in his honest account of the highs and lows across a lifetime of navigating. His is truly a unique perspective, coming from both high up on the bridge of a warship and at depth in a submarine. Mastering Navigation at Sea is a useful guide for the fresh-faced amateur as well as the experienced sailor. Read this book if you want to broaden your horizons – in knowledge and at sea.

In this fascinating fiction, private investigator Dirk Pitt and adventurer Isaac Bell work together – despite being a century apart – to uncover a truth lost with the Titanic. Not for the faint-hearted, this fast-paced detective adventure story spans the present day and the early 20th century, as well as travelling between the US, France, Norway, the Russian Arctic and the UK. Through the authors’ detailed descriptions, we learn about early submarines and diving equipment, as well as whaling ships and mining practices. And there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing!

Published by Adlard Coles ISBN 9781472987105 Price (hardback): £20

Published by Fernhurst Books ISBN 9781912621095 Price: £17.99

Published by Penguin ISBN 9781405936859 Price: £8.99

Buy these books online via RNLI.org/amazon and the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price. Recommended retail prices may vary from the time of writing. Post and packaging costs may apply to online orders. 30 Lifeboat summer 2022

REVIEW

Sail away this summer with a good book – or, even better, pick up one of our guides and explore the water yourself!

West Country

Coastwise

Inflatable Kayaking

by Peter Firstbrook

by Chris Scott

by Mark Fishwick

They say you are never more than 70 miles from the sea in Britain, so whether you live there, work there or are just visiting, Coastwise is your perfect companion. Peter Firstbrook explains how our beaches, cliffs and tidal waterways are formed and how mankind and nature alike make their home alongside a variety of habitats, both on land and under the waves. His relaxed narrative, clear illustrations and beautiful photography will appeal to anyone with an interest in the world around them. Coastwise will educate and fascinate readers of all ages, as you’re guided around Britain and some of its most beautiful locations.

Kayaking is relaxing, yet challenging, and eco-friendly – a wonderful way to explore and get some fresh air. It’s no surprise that inflatable kayaks – the cheaper and more convenient option – are increasingly popular. Enter Chris Scott, who has created this introduction for kayaking novices. He takes you through the five different types of inflatable kayak, covers the basic skills and gear you’ll need, and shares his tips for paddling safely. Before you go out on the water, the RNLI also recommends you find a training session at your local canoe club to help you learn (see page 22 for key safety tips).

Heading to the West Country? This is an ideal onboard companion. Mark Fishwick’s sailing guide, covering the coastline from Portland Bill to Padstow and the Isles of Scilly, combines essential cruising information, fascinating history and practical advice for your time ashore. Highly detailed, it's packed with handy charts and stunning photography, including up-to-date aerial shots of ports, harbours and anchorages. Now on its ninth edition, this comprehensive guide is a real labour of love. Fishwick’s passion for his favourite cruising ground is clear, and his warm tone makes this guide a real pleasure to read.

Published by Fernhurst Books ISBN 9781912621408 Price (hardback): £35

Published by Fernhurst Books ISBN 9781912621323 Price: £10.99

Published by Fernhurst Books ISBN 9781912621057 Price (hardback): £42.50

Reviewed by David Lovelock, Rebecca Longman, Catherine Weston, Kevin Hill and Nikki McMullen Lifeboat summer 2022 31

The launches listed here are those for which returns had been received at RNLI Support Centre and processed by 5 April 2022.

Photo: RNLI/Nigel Millard

1,169

RNLI RESCUE CRAFT LAUNCHES 1 JANUARY TO 31 MARCH 2022

Behind every launch, new lifeboat and naming ceremony listed in this section is a community of volunteers, fundraisers and supporters. Whatever you do to keep our crews ready to rescue, thank you.

The Padstow Tamar class lifeboat Spirit of Padstow hurtles down the slipway from its new boathouse at Trevose Head ABERDEEN D-830: Jan 3(x2), Feb 12,13, Mar 7 ON1248 (17-24): Jan 3, Feb 8,12, Mar 7 ABERDOVEY B-896: Jan 17 ABERSOCH B-886: Mar 17 ABERYSTWYTH A-78: Feb 25, Mar 20(x2) B-822: Feb 15, Mar 20(x2) ACHILL ISLAND ON1240 (14-28): Jan 28, Feb 6 AITH ON1232 (17-14): Mar 29 ALDEBURGH D-808: Feb 26 ON1193 (12-34): Jan 15 ALDERNEY ON1199 (14-04): Mar 7 AMBLE D-736: Feb 24 ON1323 (13-16): Mar 24, 26,28

32 Lifeboat summer 2022

ANGLE ON1286 (16-06): Jan 3,5,6, Feb 19, Mar 5,19 ANSTRUTHER D-802: Feb 1,10,20 ON1174 (12-17): Feb 1, 10,20 APPLEDORE B-861: Jan 1, Mar 5,23 D-717: Jan 1, Mar 18,23 ARAN ISLANDS ON1217 (17-06): Jan 9,23, 26,29, Feb 23,24, Mar 14,23 ARBROATH D-759: Jan 23, Feb 10 ON1194 (12-35): Jan 23,28, Mar 6 ARKLOW ON1223 (14-19): Mar 21 ARRAN (LAMLASH) B-876: Jan 31 ARRANMORE ON1244 (17-22): Jan 9,31, Feb 10,16, Mar 27 BALLYCOTTON BB-905: Feb 1

BALTIMORE ON1302 (16-22): Mar 16 BANGOR (CO DOWN) B-805: Jan 23,27,29, Feb 27 BARMOUTH D-814: Jan 23 ON1337 (13-30): Jan 23 BARRA ISLAND ON1230 (17-12): Mar 8 BARROW D-733: Mar 3,27,30 BARRY DOCK D-820: Jan 1,9,20, Feb 8,9, 26,27, Mar 19 ON1245 (14-29): Jan 13, 21,23, Feb 26, Mar 6,26(x2) BEAUMARIS B-838: Jan 7 BEMBRIDGE D-778: Feb 12, Mar 5 ON1297 (16-17): Feb 20,21, Mar 9,14,21 BERWICK-UPON-TWEED D-777: Jan 4,17, Mar 6,25

BLACKPOOL B-867: Jan 17, Mar 16,19 D-729: Jan 1,2,20,24,27, Mar 11 D-732: Jan 1,2(x2),17(x2), 20,24,27, Feb 13, Mar 11,16 BLYTH B-923: Jan 13, Mar 19 D-746: Jan 11, Mar 13 BORTH D-760: Mar 22 BRIGHTON B-852: Jan 13,19, Feb 2,25, Mar 3,5(x2),15,27 BROUGHTY FERRY D-834: Jan 1,2,8,11,17, Feb 14,15,17, Mar 1,11, 29,30(x2) ON1252 (14-31): Jan 1,2, 8,11,17, Feb 15,17, Mar 11, 12(x2),29,30 BUCKIE ON1268 (17-37): Feb 19, 28(x2), Mar 21 BUNDORAN B-834: Jan 1, Mar 22

BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH B-849: Feb 16,21 BURRY PORT B-915: Mar 20(x2) D-749: Jan 29, Mar 19(x2) CALSHOT B-860: Jan 23,28, Mar 14, 23,26,28 D-748: Jan 5,23, Mar 28 CAMPBELTOWN ON1241 (17-19): Mar 20,27 CARDIGAN D-845: Mar 11,26 CARRYBRIDGE B-904: Jan 23,24, Mar 6 CASTLETOWNBERE ON1237 (17-17): Mar 9 CHISWICK E-08: Jan 1(x2),2,3,9,21,26, 27,28, Feb 3(x3),5(x2),9(x2), 12,15(x2),16,18(x2),20, Mar 4,12,13,20,27(x2),29 E-09: Jan 14,15,16, Feb 26, Mar 14,17,18(x2),20,22(x2), 23,27,28(x2)

LAUNCHES CLACTON-ON-SEA B-863: Jan 31 D-849: Jan 2(x2),15, Feb 22 CLEETHORPES D-757: Jan 22, Feb 5,12, Mar 4 CLIFDEN ON1339 (13-32): Feb 22 CLOGHERHEAD ON1338 (13-31): Feb 1, Mar 2,5 CONWY D-765: Mar 23(x2),26 COWES B-859: Jan 9, Feb 24, Mar 10,19(x2) CROMER ON1280 (16-01): Feb 10 CROSSHAVEN B-892: Jan 16, Feb 23(x2), Mar 18,20 CULLERCOATS B-811: Mar 19,27 DART B-825: Feb 8,20, Mar 20(x2) D-838: Jan 26, Feb 8,20, Mar 20 DONAGHADEE ON1228 (14-24): Jan 23 DOVER ON1220 (17-09): Jan 4, 10(x2),12,13(x3),15(x2),18, 23, Feb 5,6, Mar 1(x2),2,3, 4,14(x2),15(x3),18(x2),21 DUN LAOGHAIRE D-731: Feb 1,28 ON1215 (14-17): Feb 6 DUNBAR D-792: Jan 7, Feb 12 ON1266 (14-35): Jan 7 DUNGENESS ON1309 (13-02): Jan 13(x4), 15(x2),16, Feb 3,17 ON1319 (13-12): Mar 4,8, 15(x2),18,22(x2),23,24(x3), 28(x2) EASTBOURNE D-744: Jan 7,15,27,28,29, Feb 17,25, Mar 18,27 ON1303 (16-23): Jan 5,15, Feb 2, Mar 22 ENNISKILLEN B-912: Jan 31 EXMOUTH D-805: Mar 4,15(x2),18 ON1310 (13-03): Mar 18 EYEMOUTH D-745: Jan 26, Feb 13 ON1336 (13-29): Feb 13 FALMOUTH B-916: Jan 2,5,24,28,29, 30(x3),31, Feb 11,13, Mar 27 ON1256 (17-29): Jan 2, 30(x2), Feb 13 FENIT D-860: Mar 18

FILEY D-859: Jan 25, Feb 21 FISHGUARD D-789: Mar 18,20 ON1198 (14-03): Mar 20 ON1210 (14-12): Jan 17 FLAMBOROUGH B-820: Mar 26 FLEETWOOD D-853: Feb 10 FLINT D-795: Jan 1(x2),29, Mar 26 FOWEY D-817: Jan 13, Feb 22 ON1222 (14-18): Feb 22, Mar 23 FRASERBURGH ON1259 (14-34): Jan 27, Mar 30 GALWAY B-853: Feb 24 GIRVAN ON1330 (13-23): Jan 24 GRAVESEND B-827: Jan 2,7,14,18,21, 23,27, Feb 4,5,9,11(x2), 13(x2),21,27, Mar 2,3(x2), 22(x2),23,28,30 GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON B-925: Jan 6,20,21, Feb 22, Mar 5,14 ON1208 (14-10): Mar 14 HAPPISBURGH B-899: Mar 21 HARTLEPOOL B-881: Jan 1, Feb 27, Mar 29 ON1274 (14-37): Jan 1, Feb 3,4,9, Mar 29 HARWICH B-907: Jan 6,13,30, Feb 8, 21,23, Mar 20,24,31 ON1278 (17-45): Jan 13,29, Feb 27 HASTINGS D-835: Feb 26, Mar 1,6,19 ON1335 (13-28): Jan 14, Mar 6,28 HAYLING ISLAND B-829: Jan 7,23,29,30 D-779: Jan 13,23,30(x2) HELENSBURGH B-903: Jan 24, Feb 19, Mar 4,19 HELVICK HEAD B-874: Jan 12 HOLYHEAD D-791: Feb 3 ON1272 (17-41): Feb 11, Mar 24 HOWTH D-796: Jan 2(x2),15,22, Feb 28, Mar 11,13,18 ON1258 (14-33): Jan 15, Feb 28, Mar 11,13

HOYLAKE H-005: Jan 11, Mar 26 HUMBER ON1216 (17-05): Jan 9, Mar 7,15,20 HUNSTANTON B-848: Mar 18,20 ILFRACOMBE D-812: Jan 13, Feb 7 KESSOCK B-873: Feb 10,27, Mar 6 KILKEEL B-812: Jan 7, Feb 1, Mar 10,31 KINGHORN B-836: Jan 6,16,20, Feb 6,18 KINSALE B-909: Mar 27 B-926: Jan 2, Feb 11 KIRKCUDBRIGHT B-814: Mar 22 B-918: Jan 30 KIRKWALL ON1231 (17-13): Mar 7,12 ON1269 (17-38): Jan 2,9,13 KYLE OF LOCHALSH B-856: Feb 2 LARGS B-854: Jan 4, Feb 21, Mar 2,19 LITTLE AND BROAD HAVEN D-766: Feb 5, Mar 17 LITTLEHAMPTON B-891: Jan 28, Feb 8, Mar 20(x2),25 D-769: Jan 24, Feb 7, Mar 20 LITTLESTONE-ON-SEA B-922: Jan 9, Feb 14,17, Mar 2(x2),16 LLANDUDNO D-793: Feb 26, Mar 19,28 LOCHINVER ON1271 (17-40): Jan 14 LONGHOPE ON1284 (16-05): Mar 12(x2) LOOE D-741: Mar 6 LOUGH DERG B-835: Feb 12 B-911: Mar 5,9 LOUGH REE B-920: Mar 17 LOWESTOFT ON1312 (13-05): Jan 14,23, 29, Mar 27 LYME REGIS B-857: Jan 2,9 B-927: Feb 6 LYMINGTON B-882: Feb 21 LYTHAM ST ANNES D-800: Jan 3 MABLETHORPE B-887: Jan 29

ON####(13-##) Shannon class introduced 2014 new cost: £2.2M

ON####(16-##) Tamar class last built: 2013

ON####(17-##) Severn class last built: 2004

ON####(14-##) Trent class last built: 2003

ON####(12-##) Mersey class last built: 1993

B-### B class new cost: £285,000

E-## E class new cost: £560,000

D-### D class new cost: £89,000

H-### Inshore rescue hovercraft new cost: £500,000

A-## Inshore rescue boat new cost: £13,000

RWC-### Rescue watercraft new cost: £10,000

Additional rescue craft: BB-### Boarding boat Y-### Y boat X-### X boat XP-### XP boat FR-### and RR-### Flood Rescue Team boat

Lifeboat summer 2022 33

MALLAIG ON1250 (17-26): Feb 2, Mar 18,31 MARGATE B-815: Jan 5 B-930: Mar 3,4(x2) D-841: Jan 5,12, Mar 4 MINEHEAD B-824: Jan 16 D-847: Jan 16 MOELFRE D-825: Jan 8, Mar 29 MORECAMBE D-855: Mar 3,6(x2),7,22,28 H-002: Feb 28 H-007: Mar 6,7,22 MUDEFORD B-806: Feb 15,16,22, Mar 19,27(x2) NEW BRIGHTON B-837: Jan 22,31, Feb 20, Mar 18,23,31 NEW QUAY (CEREDIGION) D-754: Feb 16 D-755: Mar 10 ON1172 (12-15): Feb 16 NEWCASTLE ON1177 (12-20): Mar 26 NEWHAVEN ON1243 (17-21): Jan 5,8,19, Feb 17, Mar 6,20 NEWQUAY (CORNWALL) B-821: Jan 16, Mar 18, 19(x2) D-773: Jan 15,16(x2), Feb 25, Mar 18,20,27 NORTH BERWICK D-758: Jan 16, Feb 26, Mar 27 OBAN ON1227 (14-23): Jan 2,13, 29, Feb 4,18(x2), Mar 13, 15,27 PADSTOW ON1283 (16-04): Jan 8(x2), 10,19, Feb 21 PENARTH B-839: Jan 16,17,20, Feb 26, Mar 8,26 D-822: Mar 18 PENLEE B-893: Jan 12,13, Feb 5, Mar 26,27 ON1254 (17-27): Mar 12,15 ON1265 (17-36): Feb 6,25, Mar 1 PETERHEAD ON1282 (16-03): Jan 22,29, Feb 27, Mar 5 PLYMOUTH B-908: Jan 2,4,8,12, Feb 1, 2,7,16,27(x2), Mar 5,21,22, 24,26(x2) ON1254 (17-27): Feb 2,16 ON1264 (17-35): Jan 16,21, Mar 5,23,24

34 Lifeboat summer 2022

POOLE B-826: Jan 2,31, Mar 5, 31(x2) D-804: Mar 19 PORT ST MARY D-742: Mar 27 ON1234 (14-26): Jan 22 PORTHCAWL D-776: Jan 12 PORTHDINLLAEN ON1293 (16-13): Mar 19 PORTISHEAD B-884: Mar 19,28 PORTREE ON1214 (14-16): Feb 1 PORTRUSH D-738: Mar 27 PORTSMOUTH B-846: Jan 26,29, Feb 5,20, Mar 5,16,23 D-850: Jan 20, Feb 12, Mar 16,19,26 QUEENSFERRY B-851: Jan 7,17,29, Feb 4, 6,16, Mar 5,6,7(x2),8,13, 14,20 RAMSEY ON1181 (12-22): Mar 19 RED BAY B-843: Jan 26, Mar 3 ON1253 (14-32): Jan 26, Mar 3 REDCAR B-858: Jan 3,17(x2), Feb 2, Mar 9,15,26,30 D-762: Mar 9,12 D-786: Jan 17, Feb 2 RHYL D-770: Jan 1, Feb 4,14,20, Mar 7 ON1341 (13-34): Jan 1,6, Mar 3 ROCK D-772: Jan 8 ROSSLARE HARBOUR ON1276 (17-43): Jan 20, Feb 9 RYE HARBOUR B-900: Jan 4, Feb 11,12, Mar 5,21,28 SALCOMBE B-905: Mar 30 ON1289 (16-09): Jan 15, Feb 7,27(x2), Mar 19,31 SCARBOROUGH D-856: Jan 1,12,14,29, Mar 8,12,15,27,28 ON1322 (13-15): Jan 14,31, Mar 11,23 SEAHOUSES D-828: Mar 6,18,19 ON1343 (13-36): Jan 23 SELSEY D-827: Mar 20 ON1327 (13-20): Jan 26,30, Mar 24

SENNEN COVE ON1294 (16-14): Jan 9 SHEERNESS D-799: Jan 8,13,23,29, Feb 8, Mar 5,14,19 ON1345 (13-38): Jan 6,17, 31, Feb 26, Mar 15,27 SHOREHAM HARBOUR D-784: Jan 4,27 ON1295 (16-15): Jan 20, Mar 13,23,31 SKEGNESS D-842: Feb 21 ON1324 (13-17): Mar 19(x2) SKERRIES B-866: Jan 7, Feb 1 SLIGO BAY B-888: Mar 14 SOUTHEND-ON-SEA D-818: Jan 11, Feb 7 H-004: Jan 10 ST AGNES D-787: Feb 12, Mar 10 ST BEES B-831: Jan 13, Feb 19, Mar 10,20 B-921: Mar 23,26 ST CATHERINE B-841: Jan 20 ST DAVIDS D-840: Jan 13,26 ON1293 (16-13): Jan 3, Feb 5(x2) ST HELIER ON1292 (16-12): Jan 23, Feb 3 ST IVES D-803: Jan 12,15,20, Feb 14, Mar 27 ON1318 (13-11): Jan 20, Feb 9,14,17 ST MARY'S ON1229 (17-11): Feb 28 ST PETER PORT B-889: Jan 5,17, Feb 7, Mar 6,8,13,17,20,27 ON1203 (17-04): Mar 8, 20,27 ON1279 (17-46): Jan 23 STAITHES AND RUNSWICK B-897: Jan 7 STONEHAVEN B-919: Feb 17 STORNOWAY ON1238 (17-18): Jan 18(x2), Feb 7,12,16,25 STRANRAER D-833: Jan 15 SUNDERLAND D-747: Jan 12,17 SWANAGE D-752: Jan 8,12,28, Mar 2, 10,19 ON1320 (13-13): Jan 8,28, Feb 16, Mar 19,23 ON1333 (13-26): Mar 2,10

TEDDINGTON D-743: Jan 15,20,26, Feb 5, 6,9,10,12,14,20, Mar 1,3,6, 12,14,17,22(x2),24 D-785: Jan 15,20, Feb 5, Mar 17,24 TEIGNMOUTH B-809: Feb 6,14, Mar 20 TENBY D-858: Jan 23 ON1281 (16-02): Feb 15, Mar 20,27,31 THE LIZARD ON1300 (16-20): Jan 24, Feb 25, Mar 15 THE MUMBLES D-750: Feb 21,25 D-761: Jan 2,14,29,31, Feb 1, Mar 16,19,24 ON1307 (16-27): Jan 2, 16(x3), Feb 1(x2),2,8, Mar 20 THURSO ON1273 (17-42): Jan 9(x2) TORBAY D-788: Jan 1,2,11,16,21, Feb 4,12, Mar 18,19,23, 27,29,30 ON1254 (17-27): Jan 29 ON1255 (17-28): Jan 2, Mar 7 TOWER E-07: Jan 20,23,24,27(x5), 28(x3),29(x3),31, Feb 4(x4), 5(x4),7(x3),8,9(x3),10, 11(x2),12(x4),14(x2),15(x2), 18,19,20(x2),21(x2),24, Mar 3(x3),4,5,13,14,16, 17(x4),21,22(x5),23(x3), 24(x2),28(x2),29(x4),30(x3) E-08: Feb 27,28, Mar 1(x3) E-10: Jan 3,4(x2),5,6(x3), 7,8(x2),9(x3),12,13,17(x2), 18(x3),19(x3),22(x3),23, Feb 2,3(x2),4(x2),24(x2), 25(x2),26, Mar 5(x4),6, 7(x2),9,11(x2),12(x2),23, 30(x2),31(x2) TREARDDUR BAY B-847: Mar 6,20,22 D-753: Mar 22

TROON D-821: Feb 28, Mar 4, 19,20,29 ON1226 (14-22): Feb 28, Mar 2,4,8,19(x2),29 ON1275 (14-38): Jan 28 TYNEMOUTH D-829: Jan 1,4,11,14,16, 17(x2),30, Feb 2, Mar 4,5,10 UNION HALL B-924: Mar 26 WALMER B-808: Mar 22(x2) D-794: Jan 2,22(x2), Mar 20 WELLS D-797: Jan 1, Mar 12 ON1161 (12-003): Jan 17 WEST KIRBY D-751: Jan 8,9, Mar 23 WEST MERSEA B-879: Jan 18,27,31(x2), Feb 6,7,9,21, Mar 10, 19(x2),31 WESTON-SUPER-MARE B-830: Feb 26, Mar 16 D-832: Jan 22, Feb 26, Mar 3,16,20 WEXFORD D-782: Mar 26 WEYMOUTH B-917: Jan 3,22, Feb 11,17, 19,20,26,27, Mar 15 ON1261 (17-32): Feb 20 WHITBY D-810: Feb 24(x2) ON1212 (14-14): Mar 15,16 WHITSTABLE B-877: Jan 5, Mar 4,29 WICKLOW D-806: Jan 16, Feb 14,15 ON1334 (13-27): Jan 23, Feb 14,15 WORKINGTON D-767: Feb 25, Mar 23 ON1332 (13-25): Feb 4,25, Mar 19 ON1347 (13-40): Jan 7 YARMOUTH (IOW) ON1249 (17-25): Jan 1 YOUGHAL B-890: Jan 4, Feb 2, Mar 20

ON STATION D-861, Hugo Missen, Porthcawl, 26 January 2022 B-930, Colonel Stock, Margate, 2 March 2022

NAMING CEREMONIES B-926, Julie Poolie, relief fleet, 31 March 2022

LAUNCHES

Friends of the RNLI Aquapac, a world-leading sustainable waterproof case manufacturer and supplier since 1983, is helping the RNLI save lives at sea

Photo: Aquapac

RNLI lifeguards have been using Aquapac waterproof pouches for 20 years, allowing them to communicate with each other while on their beach patrols. Aquapac waterproof pouches let water users keep their means of calling for help secure when enjoying their activity. You can buy your waterproof pouch from the RNLI at shop.RNLI.org/pouch. In partnership with the RNLI, Aquapac will be sharing water safety messages through their websites, press releases and social media to millions of people. Aquapac will also donate a percentage of sales to the RNLI on selected products. Throughout 2022, our friends at Aquapac are organising a number of fundraising events. And in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Aquapac aims to raise at least £70,000 for the RNLI.

Puzzle time

Emoji quiz There’s more to RNLI engineering than you might think. You’ll find out more about these words on page 18.

M M L V Z L I C O Y I L

G Z A B D H I T F O B E

S T U N A K A Y E V R C

T C X D T N C N R U A T

L O T J M E V E R X L G I T T A B G E N T I R I

B M T B N P V L T D O C

Y L B E W G K C Y S N S

A L U X Q H X N A L U Y

H U M A N F A C T O R S

Z G S S E R T T A M B J

ALTERNATOR BILGE BOLTS ELECTRICS ENGINE HUMAN FACTORS MATTRESS NUTS SUSTAINABLE

Emoji quiz created by Leonie Mead

P E G L I B R X U R V E

How well do you know your lifeboat stations? Can you guess the names of these five lifeboat stations from emojis? (Answers on page 38.)

2. 3. 4. 5.

VIBRATION

Lifeboat summer 2022 35

ONE CREW THROUGH AND THROUGH December 8, 2021 was a significant date for our family as it was the 62nd Anniversary of the loss of the Broughty Ferry lifeboat and all its crew. My Uncle, James Jack was also called out that night, to the same incident. He was a crew member on the deck of the Anstruther lifeboat ready to go and help, when the Coxswain decided it was impossible to get the Anstruther lifeboat out of the harbour due to the atrocious sea conditions at the harbour mouth. So the Anstruther lifeboat had to stand by, waiting for the conditions to change. Sadly, the Broughty Ferry boat did get to sea and was lost with all hands. The Anstruther crew had the sad task of recovering the bodies of the Broughty Ferry crew. Due to my uncle continuing to serve on the Anstruther boat for many years, our family have all been fundraisers for the RNLI for as long as I can remember and my Mum's name is amongst those on the Invergordon Launch a Memory boat. Bob Tame

WHY PAGERS? I was intrigued in your Six steps to rescue article (Issue 638 Winter 2021–22) to read that you contact crew using pagers rather than mobile phones. What advantages do you gain by using pagers? Ian Ogden Senior Operations Manager Paul Fisher replies: There are several advantages to using pagers. It is our own paging network, so we are not reliant on a commercial paging system nor on a mobile phone company network, which are not great in some coastal areas. By design our stations have to be at or near sea level which often puts them in a signal blackspot.

36 Lifeboat summer 2022

Bob’s uncle would have had this view from the helm of the Anstruther lifeboat James and Ruby Jackson

Bob’s mum will always be remembered – her name is one of those printed on the side of the Invergordon Launch a Memory lifeboat

Our paging messages are transmitted instantly from the lifeboat station to cover the local area and simultaneously from a high radio mast to fill in any gaps. A text by mobile phone can sit on the server of the mobile network until phone traffic allows it to be sent or indeed the receiving phone has sufficient coverage strength. Usually this is within a second or two, but on really busy times and in busy areas it can take several hours. An example of this would be a busy beach during an airshow. Members of the public see someone in trouble and all dial 999 and ask for the coastguard. Meanwhile others are streaming the incident live to their social media and, due to the data and phone traffic, text messages to the local launch authority are delayed by several minutes. Long enough for the casualty to be further out to sea and at greater risk, or worse.

SPECIAL DELIVERY

‘THIS IS MY STORY’

The powerful B class lifeboat Hereford Endeavour, which kept the crew safe in heavy surf in the 2021 Trearddur Bay medal-winning rescue

DON'T FORGET THE LIFEBOAT Like many other of your readers, I particularly enjoy your tales of derring-do and the story about Trearddur Bay battling the surf is a very good example. As Lee says in your article, ‘in 17 years it is the most treacherous position I have ever faced on a service. All of the lifeboat crew did an amazing job’. I have absolutely no doubt that was the case, buy may I ask please that just occasionally in these reports, there is at least a passing reference to the lifeboat and the part it played in the rescue. David Morgan Editor: Thank you for highlighting the vital role of lifeboats in our rescues. In our stories we do tend to put the spotlight on the lifeboat volunteers who we all admire. I agree that the lifeboat can sometimes be the unsung hero. That’s one of the reasons why this issue has a big article on RNLI engineering (page 18). I’ll look out for opportunities to sing the praises of our wonderful fleet of lifeboats in other articles too. It is thanks to the generosity of you and people like you that the crew have state-of-the-art lifeboats to bring them home safely.

SHARE YOUR STORY

The Fenit crew came to the rescue on the Barnett class relief lifeboat William and Harriot

You can help us save lives by sharing your story at RNLI.org/YourStory. We are always keen to hear from people with experiences of our lifesaving work. You can help us inspire others to donate, volunteer or follow our safety advice. Our friendly case studies team look forward to hearing from you.

Lifeboat summer 2022 37

Photos: Andy Hodgson, Michael MacDonald, RNLI/Beken of Cowes

When I was 20, back in 1957, we left Galway in the motor vessel Libra. As the weather got worse, the captain looked for shelter. We dropped both anchors. Because of strong winds and tide, the ship turned several times around the anchor chains. I was sitting suspended on a wooden boatswain’s chair and tried to cut one of the chains with a hacksaw! For my safety our working boat was underneath me. Around 12 o’clock I climbed onboard for dinner. As we were sitting in the mess room, the cook came and told us ‘the working boat is drifting away’. At this moment the weather was reasonable. We lowered our lifeboat and six of us (I was one of them) rowed towards the working boat. In the meantime, the wind increased. We were able to pick up our working boat, but the wind was so strong, we could not row back to the ship. The captain was left with just three men aboard and was in danger of being driven ashore. We got a lot of spray coming over us. We were soaked. People ashore waved at us and showed us a small pier. With all our strength we reached the pier and people were there waiting for us. They gave us shelter, food and drink. Somebody called the Fenit lifeboat. The lifeboat came, threw us a line and towed us back to the ship. I have never seen in all my life a happier captain. Later I was able to cut the anchor chain and after a lot of work we picked up both anchors and we continued our trip to England. This is my story. Dirk Maars, the Netherlands

A SPLASH OF COLOUR SomewhereForUs tweeted: Big smiles seeing Sophie from the RNLI Anstruther #Lifeboat Station crew with the cover art for issue six of our #SomewhereForUs magazine. £5 from every print sale will be donated to the #RNLI to support their lifesaving work. Buy the print at somewhereforus.org/shop Cover art by Madeleine Leisk #OneCrew #LGBTHM22

Emoji quiz answers (page 35): 1. Kinghorn, 2. Ballyglass, 3. Tenby, 4. Eyemouth, 5. Queensferry

LIFEBOAT LOTTERY

Enter the autumn Lottery from 4 July to 25 August 2022.

WIN UP TO £5,000 AND HELP SAVE LIVES

Call 0300 300 9920 (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm) or email lottery@rnli.org.uk. The draw date is 12 September. Every £1 ticket you buy powers our lifesaving. Find out more at RNLI.org/LotteryLB

PER ENT

1st prize: £5,000 5th prize: 5x £100 2nd prize: £2,000 6th prize: 11x £25 3rd prize: £500 M&S Gift Cards 4th prize: £250

For a full list of winners of the spring 2022 Lottery, visit RNLI.org/LotteryWinners Please note that due to tax and gaming laws, to play the Lifeboat Lottery you must be a resident of England (excluding the Channel Islands and Isle of Man), Scotland or Wales. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. For full details, including terms and conditions, visit RNLI.org/LotteryLB Photo: RNLI/Erik Woolcott

! N I N O E COM

Photos: John Baldry, Tony Buckingham, Colin Davison, RNLI/Nathan Williams

n i a g a u o y e e s o t t a e r g It’s

We’re so glad to be reopening the doors to our lifeboat stations, museums and visitor centres. You and your loved ones will be given a warm welcome back. Join us this summer to take a walk back in time, led by expert volunteers, through our historic museums and boathouses, and visitor centres. Hear lifesaving stories from past and present, and discover the important part you play in saving more lives at sea.

Thank you for being part of our RNLI family and for your loyal support over these challenging times. While the pandemic meant we couldn’t open for visitors, the one constant that has always kept our lifesaving service running is you. So, come and see us soon! We can’t wait to welcome you.

Find your nearest lifeboat station, museum or visitor centre at RNLI.org/ComeOnIn Opening times are dependent on volunteer availability, so please phone ahead. Lifeboat summer 2022 39

Celebrating the RNLI family, past and present

A successful operation Imagine going into hospital to have your second baby and finding your colleague in the operating room. That’s exactly what happened to Brighton Crew Member Emily Summerfield last November. She arrived at hospital to have a planned c-section and was reassured to see fellow Crew Member Julian, who works as an anaesthetist. Emily, who has been on the crew since May 2019 and is a constable with Sussex Police, says: ‘I have such positive memories from that day, it was a great experience for myself and my family. Julian is so calm and collected, he really led the room and kept me informed as to what was happening throughout. It’s what makes him such a great team member in the RNLI, and it helped in this situation too.’ Baby William, who weighed 8lbs 9oz, has already been on a trip to visit the station (pictured). Emily adds: ‘I hope to be able to get back to being a crew member soon as I’ve really missed it. My dad volunteered with Eastbourne RNLI as a launch authority for more than 20 years, so it was something I’d always wanted to do – and now William has a special connection with lifeboats too.’

Emily, Julian and baby William onboard Brighton’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Random Harvest

40 Lifeboat summer 2022

Dr George Middleton MBE

A milestone birthday Earlier this year, Dr George Middleton MBE celebrated a very special birthday – his 100th. Dr Middleton served as Honorary Medical Adviser at St Davids Lifeboat Station for many years, having joined the station in 1956. He was also a member of the RNLI’s National Medical Committee, which involved finding and testing medical equipment and designing RNLI crews’ medical training. He even delivered the station’s current mechanic into the world in 1965! A Life Governor of the RNLI, Dr Middleton has been awarded our Gold and Silver Badges, and has also been awarded an MBE in recognition of his dedication and commitment to the RNLI and other organisations. Thank you for everything, Dr Middleton. We hope you had a brilliant day celebrating!

RNLI FAMILY

Celebrating life

Surprise! Looe Crew Member Aaron Rix and his girlfriend Katie went out for dinner in November to celebrate Aaron's 30th birthday. What Katie didn’t know was, Aaron had a plan up his sleeve. He’d arranged for his fellow volunteers, who were training out on the water, to deliver a marriage proposal by lifeboat. As the two lovebirds sat at the restaurant overlooking the river, the Atlantic 85 relief lifeboat Roy Snewin came right alongside, escorted by Looe’s D class Ollie Naismith. Looking out of the window, Katie watched as the crew unfolded a banner which popped the question: ‘Will you marry me, Katie Fisher?’ When she turned back around, Aaron was on one knee proposing. Of course, Katie said yes! The couple then went down to the quay where they were greeted by cheers from their families and the crew. Congratulations, Aaron and Katie!

Aaron Rix and Katie Fisher

It’s in the genes Ilfracombe RNLI has been celebrating the achievements of 21-year-old Sophie Braund, who recently passed out as a fully qualified lifeboat crew member. Ilfracombe’s newly ‘Loads of my family are on the lifeboats, qualified Crew Member so I’ve grown up with it,’ says Sophie. ‘It’s Sophie Braund second nature to me. My uncle David Clemence was coxswain; my uncle Derek was tractor driver; my nan was lifeboat operations manager; my granddad was crew; my boyfriend is helm, and his dad is coxswain. I always knew I would volunteer too!’ She adds: ‘I’m pleased to have been passed out, but the main difference is that I’ll be able to go out on more shouts. The adrenaline rush when you know there is a rescue to do is just the same on the boat – no matter how well qualified you are.’

John Berry – December 2021 Committee Member at Northwich Branch Kerrith ‘Kez’ Black – November 2021 Mechanic at Lytham St Annes Shirley Capp – October 2021 Membership Secretary at Chepstow Branch Tom Chadwick – January 2021 President of Christchurch and Bournemouth Branch Clive Cockayne – November 2021 Chairman and Deputy Launch Authority at Selsey Richard Constantine MBE – February 2022 Former Coxswain at Scarborough Owen Davies – December 2021 Fundraiser at Romsey and District Branch Barrie Dodsworth – November 2021 Souvenir Secretary, Vice Chair and Treasurer at Garforth Branch Mike Foot – November 2021 Former Crew Member at Lymington Paul Frost – December 2021 Former President at Borth Stan Green – August 2021 Former Honorary Secretary and Lifeboat Operations Manager at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Trevor Hayward – December 2021 Committee Member at Barnsley Branch Ann Horwood – January 2022 Fundraiser at Altrincham and Bowdon Branch John Humston – February 2022 Stalwart fundraising volunteer for Union Hall Anthony (Tony) Johnson – January 2022 Volunteer at Humber and Holderness Branch Stanley Kilburn – October 2021 Former Honorary Examiner and Committee Member at Garforth Branch Willie McAuley – January 2022 Former Coxswain at Portrush Andrew Munson – December 2021 Lifeboat Operations Manager at Penlee Stuart Ogden MBE – February 2022 Former Coxswain at Scarborough Nancy Jane Orr – March 2022 Past President of Gourock Fundraising Branch Tomsie O'Sullivan – October 2021 Stalwart for 51 years at the Lahinch Fundraising Branch Mike Pennell – October 2021 Former Divisional Inspector and Staff Officer Marion Purdie – February 2022 Largs Fundraising Branch Committee Member and Largs Shop Volunteer David Squibb – February 2022 Box and Minute Secretary at Tavistock and District Branch Joan Tanner – December 2021 Volunteer at St Ives Jacqueline Webb – July 2021 Secretary of the Newbury Branch Stephen Wood MBE – January 2022 Dedicated supporter, fundraising volunteer and Honorary Life Governor Commander Mike Woodroffe – February 2022 Former Deputy Chief of Operations

Lifeboat summer 2022 41

Photos: RNLI/(Ian Foster, Gudrun Limbrick, Hatti Mellor, St Davids)

Join us in remembering our RNLI family members who have recently passed away.

Unsung heroes

Ann Watson Volunteer Ann is proud to be Chair of Looe Fundraising Committee How did you become involved with the RNLI? My husband and I moved to Looe over 20 years ago. We were both newly retired and interested in volunteering locally. As we were in the process of buying our own boat, the RNLI seemed the most appropriate choice – and quite honestly, I haven’t looked back since! What experience did you bring to your volunteer role? I worked as a nurse, a magistrate and a CEO before joining Looe RNLI. Our team is incredibly varied in their backgrounds. We have teachers, accountants, even a professional photographer, and their diverse experience makes the committee what it is. Has much changed over the years? There hasn’t been a great deal of change over time. The generosity of our local community has been a constant. The fundraising team has always worked well due to positive relationships and a good deal of ‘mucking in’. However, there’s no doubt that the RNLI has become more inclusive and provided a much broader range of volunteering opportunities. Interview by Rebecca Longman. Photo: Laurie Watson

What’s your fondest memory of volunteering? From 20 years’ worth of happy memories, it’s hard to pick one! I’ll never forget the conclusion of the Looe Appeal 2010, when we exceeded our goal of raising £56,000 for a new D class lifeboat, the Ollie Naismith. But there’s more happy memories in the making, as we’ve just raised over £100,000 to build its successor, the Ollie Naismith II.

Every RNLI volunteer, regardless of their role, does their bit to help save lives at sea by giving as much or as little time as they can. Find a role for you at RNLI.org/volunteer. 42 Lifeboat summer 2022

What would you say to prospective volunteers? Volunteering is a really gratifying experience, and you can benefit just as much as the organisation. We enjoy fantastic support from our local community and from further afield. I’ve never regretted one day volunteering for the RNLI – and I really believe that people can make a difference.

Be a homegrown hero

– host a lifesaving fundraiser in your own garden Over the last 2 years, many of us have come to appreciate our gardens and outdoor spaces more than ever. Now we’re asking you to celebrate them in aid of our lifesavers. As the warmer weather tempts us back outside, the heat will be rising for RNLI crews and lifeguards across the UK and Ireland. Summer is always our busiest time, so we’ll be relying on people like you to help us stay prepared. It doesn’t matter what sort of fundraiser you throw. You could show off your horticultural handiwork, put on a plant sale, get family and friends together or just have a chilled picnic in the park. What matters is that every amount you raise will support our lifesavers as they strive to save every one they can. So let’s dig deep.

RNLI.org/gardensLB

Lifeboat summer 2022 8

LBES/06/22

Let the sunshine in Bring all the summer senses – like feeling warmth on your skin, smelling freshly cut grass and watching your garden bloom – inside your home, with our exclusive range of garden print products at RNLI Shop.

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1. 2. 3. 4.

Every item you buy from this range will help save lives at sea.

Visit shop.RNLI.org/garden

How to buy Online

On the phone

Free UK delivery on orders over £50

Visit shop.RNLI.org/lifeboat for our full range of products.

Call 0300 300 9916 or +44 1375 484577 from outside the UK to order.

Standard UK delivery is FREE when you spend £50 or over. Visit shop.RNLI.org/terms for terms and conditions.

We’re here to help Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm. UK standard network rates apply. Always get the bill payer’s permission.

RNLI Lifeboat Magazine – Summer 2022 Issue – Southern England and Channel Islands

Articles inside

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8 COLDINGHAM SANDS