50 YEARS AND GOING

At NSRI’s AGM and Annual Awards evening, special honour was given to three NSRI members who have served the organisation for 50 years: Pat van Eyssen, Howard Godfrey and Ian Hamilton. We chatted to them to find out what inspired them to join Sea Rescue and to share memorable moments from their careers.

Pat van Eyssen is still an active crew member at Station 3 (Table Bay). Pat has clocked in excess of 10 000 sea-going hours.

What inspired you to join Sea Rescue? I was born in Bloubergstrand and grew up with the beach and sea as my playground. At low tide I would go to the little island with my mother and we would catch crayfish from under the rocks in the rock pools. My father had a little fishing boat and we would launch from the beach and go fishing. When my late brother-in-law, Peter Bestbier, invited me to join Sea Rescue, I didn’t waste any time. That was 4 June 1971; I was 18 years old. A few years later I became a skipper and, now, 50 years later, I am still very much involved. What positions did you hold at Sea Rescue? I held the position of station commander at Station 3 (Table Bay) for many years but realised the importance of encouraging the younger crew to take over the reins. It’s important for me to share my knowledge and encourage our new trainees to learn and get involved as much as possible.

Is there a memorable rescue you can single out? There were many. In the earlier years we had the Chinese fishing trawlers running aground off Woodstock Beach. While waiting for a decision from the authorities, we were told that NRSI was not allowed to go out to the vessel. We had to go privately. Peter and I stripped out of our NSRI uniforms and walked out and boarded the vessel. All were rescued safely. We’ve also spent many hours at sea searching for little fishing boats that became lost in the fog off the West Coast. In 2009, the Seli ran aground off Bloubergstrand. The operation took all night, but every crew member was saved.

How important is family support when you’re a volunteer? Very important. I am grateful to Jill and my children – Tracy, Karen, Candice and Patrick James – for the times they had to make sacrifices when plans had to change because I had to dash off

Ian Hamilton served Station 15 (Mossel Bay) until he retired from active duty in 2013.

When did you join Sea Rescue? I became involved in November 1969 when the Mossel Bay Rotary Club was asked by the town clerk of Mossel Bay (Mr Hofmeyr) to investigate the necessity of forming a Sea Rescue station here. The station formally opened on 1 May 1971, with Keith Burchell as Statcom, and I was a crew member. I was 33 years old.IAN HAMILTON

What made you want to join as a volunteer? Probably my love for the sea and wanting to help.

For how long were you an active crew member? From 1971 until I turned 75 in 2013.

Describe your journey through Sea Rescue. I fulfilled quite a few positions, including crewman, coxswain, to an emergency at sea. But, I will continue my service with the National Sea Rescue Institute for as long as I am needed and for as long as my health allows.

What is your ‘day job’? I’m retired and often at the rescue base to help out during office hours! I drive vintage sidecar motorbikes for Cape Side Cars. But business has been quiet due to Covid-19.

deputy station commander, station commander, controller, director, member of the Awards Committee and Honorary Life Member.

How are you currently involved? I help out at the station when asked, but because of Covid-19 I do not go down to the station as often as I would like to.

Any special moments during your time that you’d like to highlight? A highlight was attending the USA Coast Guard Conference in Los Angeles with Ian Strachan in September 2002.

Any advice or motivation you can share with younger recruits? We are part of an incredible family of like-minded, caring volunteers in an organisation that is respected globally, and being a member is both an honour and a privilege – something to be really proud of. Never do anything to harm that reputation.

Howard’s career with the NSRI began in 1971. He considers it an honour to be of service.

When did you join Sea Rescue? I joined unofficially as a helper at Station 3 (Table Bay) in 1968 and then officially January 1971, 50 years ago. I was 16 years old.

What made you want to join as a volunteer? As a young boy living opposite Three Anchor Bay, I was always on the beach helping others to launch boats in the hope of getting a ride. What really got me going was the grounding of the cargo passenger ship SA Seafarer 50 metres off Green Point Lighthouse on 1 July 1966. I was there on scene just after the grounding and watched the entire rescue operation by the SAAF helicopters. It was a dramatic rescue as she was breaking up in the stormy seas. This was before Sea Rescue was formed in 1967 (then called the South African Inshore Rescue Service), but as a young enthusiastic boy always hanging around for some action, it sparked my interest to join.

What was your first callout? My first unofficial callout was for the oil tanker Kazimah that ran aground off Robben Island in November 1970. As a junior crew member, I was lucky to even go; my joining papers were still in the base cabinet and weren’t processed until January 1971.

Briefly describe your Sea Rescue journey. After joining as junior crew, I became a full crew member, trained by the founders of Sea Rescue,

The SA Seafarer grounded off Green Point Lighthouse.

Bob Deacon and Ray Lant. I served as station commander, as well as a national operations technical committee member and then board member. I am currently an Honorary Life Governor.

For how long were you an active crew member? I was active crew for more than 40 years.

Any special moments during your time that you’d like to highlight? I was instrumental in moving us into the V&A Waterfront and helped to raise funds by running the then Radio 5 Pledge Week with 12 telephones at a makeshift call centre in our new rescue base in 1991. This really helped NSRI at a difficult time, and our team at Station 3 did an outstanding job.

Any advice or motivation you can share with younger recruits? Sea Rescue is an amazing volunteer organisation that offers young people a world-class training programme in helping to save lives at sea and on inland waters around South Africa.

You will meet people from all walks of life. You are not paid for your volunteer service but it will enrich you as a person. It can be a life-changing experience for all young South Africans.

To assist in rescuing others is an honour. HOWARD GODFREY