A ROYAL ENGAGEMENT

First appointment with the RNLI

ISSUE 595SPRING 2011

2010 STATISTICSMOST PEOPLE EVER RESCUED

CARTOON CAPERSKIDS’ CLUB MAKEOVER

FISHERMAN OVERBOARDNEAR-GALE NIGHT

ON THE BEACHESA DECADE'S DEDICATIONPLUS

INF001-595

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rnli.org.uk

THE RNLIA charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland.The Royal National Lifeboat Institution was founded in 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck. Today, it provides the 24-hour on-call search and rescue service out to 100 nautical miles from the coast of the UK, RoI, IoM and CI; on the tidal reaches of the River Thames; and on selected inland waterways plus a seasonal lifeguard service on appropriate beaches in England, Wales, NI and CI. The RNLI is independent from Government and continues to rely on voluntary contributions and legacies for its income. Chairman: Admiral the Lord Boyce gcb obe dl Chief Executive: Paul Boissier

SUPPORTING THE RNLIIf you're not already a subscriber, you can help save lives from the beach to the open sea by becoming a regular supporter of the RNLI. Find out more from the Supporter Care Team.

CONTACT DETAILS• RNLI Headquarters: telephone

0845 122 6999, email info@rnli.org.uk or write to RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ

• Supporter Care Team, for membership, donations, Lifeboat Lottery enquiries: telephone 0845 121 4999, email supporter_care@rnli.org.uk or write c/o Headquarters address above

• Legacies Team, to find out about gifts in Wills: telephone 01202 663032, email mark_allwood@rnli.org.uk or write to him c/o Headquarters address

• Family association, for retired staff and operational volunteers: telephone 01202 662222

• Lifeboat Enthusiasts’ Society: email john_francis@rnli.org.uk

• The Editor: telephone 01202 662254, email thelifeboat@rnli.org.uk or write c/o Headquarters address above

• Advertising in the Lifeboat: Landmark Publishing Services 7 Adam Street, London, WC2N 6AA Tel: 020 7520 9474, Fax: 020 7520 9475, email landmark@lps.co.uk.

Blind and partially sighted readers can choose to receive an audio tape or CD version as well as the magazine – this is a free service. Please contact Tracy Carey on 01202 662254 or email tracy_carey@rnli.org.uk.

Dear Reader As I write this column, Spring has at last sprung and there’s a welcome mass migration into the great outdoors. It’s time to breathe some fresh air and gain a fresh perspective. You can catch a glimpse of the world around the time of the RNLI's foundation on page 52 and of the growing future for the charity on page 32.

RNLI crews and lifeguards have their own unique view of life, and you can share it through the lens of the latest Photographer of the Year on page 8. Their calm approach to wind and wave is amply demonstrated in our Rescue section (pages 16–29) while the admiration they stimulate shines through the faces of our young supporters (14), famous supporters (38) and even royal supporters (8).

Some supporters go more than the extra mile (41) and just can’t keep their enthusiasm to themselves (10). You, too, are part of that proud body of folk who have helped save even more lives at sea (4). Come and celebrate at our annual meeting (43) and listen out for our sponsored adverts on the radio over the next few months. Do take their message to heart – ‘Thank you!’

Liz Cook, Editor

Cover: Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton name Trearddur Bay's new lifeboat (see pages 8 and 48). Photos: Nicholas Leach, RNLI/Nathan Williams

Photo: RNLI/N

igel Millard

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SPRING 2011 ISSUE 595The Lifeboat is published quarterly by the RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ. © RNLI 2011. 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.

Any products or services advertised in the Lifeboat by third parties are not in any way endorsed by the RNLI and the RNLI shall not be responsible for the accuracy of any information contained in such advertisements nor has it investigated or verified any of the information. Advertising revenue helps subsidise production costs of this magazine.

All recipients of the Lifeboat also receive RNLI Compass for their region. News in other regions can be viewed at rnli.org.uk.

Are you interested in receiving RNLI news by email? If so, you can sign up to our enewsletter at rnli.org.uk/email.

Publications and Design Manager: Mark Dunne; Editor: Liz Cook; Researchers/Writers/Assistant Editors: Mairéad Dwane, Valerie French, Bethany Hope, Jon Jones, Joanna Roche, Rory Stamp, Carol Waterkeyn; Proofreader: Anne Millman; Design Manager: Laura Wiltshire; Designer: Jonathan Lotriet; Publications Assistant: Tracy Carey; Acting Print Manager: Zoe Nother; Printer: Pindar, Scarborough.

the Lifeboat REGULARS31 REVIEWBreath-taking imagery and the adventures of a real-life hardman

37 LOTTERYYour chance to win £5,000 and help save lives at sea

46 LAUNCHESOctober–December 2010 saw more than 1,200 launches

52 A CLEARER PICTUREFrom Victorian wreck charts to crystal-clear statistics

NEWS including

4 Most people ever rescued

5 Top-class photography

6 Awards and honours

8 A Royal engagement

FEATURES

10 SPIRITFacing up to fundraisingMeet the team who want to chat not 'chug'

14 MEMBERSHIPAhoy there!Storm Force, the RNLI's club for young people, just got way cooler ...

32 CLOSE UP10 years on the beachesRNLI lifeguards celebrate a decade of lifesaving dedication

RESCUE

16 ROUND-UPA plunging car, a crushed thumb and a lifeboat under Police escort ...

19 NORTHERN EXPOSURE Quick-thinking and teamwork save a fisherman trapped behind a harbour wall

22 CLOSE CALLSwanage crew get a touch of déjà vu saving the injured skipper of a sinking yacht

25 COLD SWEAT Frozen by fear to a cliff-face and the tide is rising fast ...

26 MANIC MONDAYLifeguards treat a bleeding and disorientated bodyboarder on a hectic Bank Holiday

28 A WEIGHTY ENDEAVOURA 'wee lifeboat' and her crew prevent an environmental disaster

VOICES

38 NAUTICAL STARBen Fogle immerses himself in the RNLI's past and present for a new documentary

41 FROM THE HEARTFundraiser Chantal Carr explains how her dad is an inspiration

45 YOUR SHOUTA full-on rescue experience and some time for quiet reflection

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Photo: RNLI/N

igel Millard

Photo: RNLI/Sw

anage

Photo: RNLI/N

igel Millard

Photo: RNLI/Jonathan Lotriet

Photo: RNLI/N

igel Millard

An RNLI lifeguard guides swimmers back to the safety of the flagged zone at Watergate Bay in Newquay, Cornwall

4 5NEWS

Last year, RNLI lifeboats rescued 8,313 people around our coasts (the highest number in our history), while RNLI lifeguards assisted 18,775 on more than 150 of the UK’s busiest beaches. That’s 27,088 people who are grateful for your support.

Our lifeboats launched 8,713 times in 2010, spending a total of 10,758 hours (448 days) at sea. Over a third of those launches (37%) were in the hours of darkness.

Tower Lifeboat Station in London was, once again, our busiest, launching 491 times and rescuing 113 people. Beaumaris lifeboat crew (Anglesey) were the busiest in Wales, with 83 launches and 57 people rescued. In Scotland, Queensferry, near Edinburgh,

had the most launches (74) and rescued the most people (138). The busiest station in Ireland was Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, which launched 64 times, rescuing 82 people.

RNLI Operations Director Michael Vlasto says: ‘Around our coastline, our lifeboat volunteers and lifeguards have once again demonstrated their priceless commitment to saving lives at sea. But that is only part of the story; every one of the rescues carried out by the RNLI in 2010 was only made possible due to the incredible generosity of the public, even in these difficult times. I would like to say thank you to all those who support us. It’s a team effort and, as a charity, we couldn’t do it without them.’

Summer is fast approaching and the RNLI’s lifeguards are dusting down their rescue tubes, ready for another season on the UK’s most popular beaches.

This year, they’ve crossed the Irish Sea and will be patrolling in Northern Ireland for the first time. We are working with Coleraine Borough Council to establish an RNLI lifeguard service on Benone Strand, Downhill, Castlerock, Portstewart Strand, Portrush West Bay, Portrush East Strand and Whiterocks.

In another first, RNLI lifeguards will also provide safety cover on three beaches in Jersey: St Ouen's Bay, St Brelade and Plémont Gréve de Lecq.

Our lifeguards will also be on duty on all the usual beaches in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, Merseyside, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. Find your nearest RNLI lifeguarded beach on rnli.org.uk.

At the time of going to print, the RNLI was awaiting the outcome of a UK Government consultation on the modernisation of the Coastguard service. Under Government proposals, the number of maritime rescue coordination centres (MRCCs) around the coast of the UK could be reduced from 18 to 9.

The RNLI is independent from, but works very closely with, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Our lifeboats are, in the vast majority of cases, requested to launch by the Coastguard once the emergency call has come into an MRCC.

Clearly, in the current economic climate, some very hard decisions have had to be made. However, we have been assured by the MCA that the

standard of search and rescue initiation and coordination will not be reduced, and therefore that it will be business as usual for our lifeboats.

The RNLI has been involved in the consultation process, and one thing is certain: your charity’s lifeboats will continue to launch whenever and wherever needed.

RNLI Operations Director Michael Vlasto says: 'RNLI crew members work closely with the Coastguard and know many of its members personally; they are part of their communities. It is therefore with some sadness that we see their livelihoods at risk.'

You really can’t beat a nice cup of tea, and now you can support the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards simply by putting the kettle on and having a Brew for the Crew!

We’re asking supporters to organise a fundraising tea party. It’s a fun and delicious way to help save lives, whether you hold a traditional tea party at

The Lifeboat Enthusiasts’ Society’s Handbook 2011 is now available, priced £6 (including

postage and packaging). It lists the names, numbers

and locations of all RNLI lifeboats and station equipment, after-service details on former all-weather lifeboats, and stations (open and closed) in geographical order.

We at Headquarters find it really useful and interesting, and our copies are well thumbed already! Order from Tony Denton at Dawn, Upper Battlefield, Shrewsbury, SY4 4AA. Please make any cheques payable to ‘RNLI’.

Most people ever rescued

Coastguard changes Lifeguards in Ireland and Jersey

Brew for the Crew

home, at work, at school or in the village hall – or something different like an open garden or café quiz.

To get involved, visit rnli.org.uk/brew or call 0845 121 4999 (UK) or 1800 789 589 (RoI) and request your Brew for the Crew fundraising kit. The kit includes creative ideas, a poster, invitations and a sample pack and money-off vouchers for the ever-popular Lifeboat Tea, courtesy of Williamson Tea.

All the details

Feeling thirsty? Keep an eye out for Coastal Spring Cornish spring water, which is sold in support of the RNLI.

For every plastic bottle of Coastal Spring sold in shops, and elegant glass bottles sold in bars and restaurants, 1p will go towards

the lifesaving work of the RNLI.

This may not sound like much, but they have guaranteed at least £10,000 a year – certainly no drop in the ocean!

Try Coastal Spring!

A major tool supply company has pledged its support to the RNLI Flood Rescue Team (FRT) – for the next 3 years.

Toolstation, with more than 80 branches around Britain, has already made a significant contribution to the RNLI, and its staff have committed to various fundraising events over the partnership period.

The Flood Rescue Team consists of volunteer lifeboat crew members and RNLI staff who are specially trained to provide emergency search and rescue services during serious inland flooding, at home and abroad.

Toolstation sponsors flood rescue

Foresters Friendly Society, which has an enduring relationship with the RNLI, is sponsoring the RNLI Heritage Trust through 2011.

The sponsorship coincides with the RNLI being chosen by the Society’s High Chief Ranger, Michael Grealy, as the focus for his appeal for 2010–11.

Foresters Friendly Society has been providing financial solutions for its members since 1834 and has funded 22 lifeboats, from The Forester in 1864 to Pride of London Foresters in 2005.

The RNLI Heritage Trust cares for the RNLI's artefacts and archives.

Foresters Friendly to RNLI history

Photo: RNLI/Jonathan Lotriet

Photo: RNLI/Nathan Williams

Photo: RNLI/Bob Jeff

rey

Photo: RNLI/Howard Fields

Malcolm MacDonald, Assistant Tractor Driver at Ramsey Lifeboat Station, has been named RNLI Photographer of the Year.

Malcolm took first prize in the RNLI-wide competition for his picture of the station’s Mersey class lifeboat on the boathouse slipway (above).

See more stunning shots at rnli.org.uk/photooftheyear.

Picture this!

Photo: RNLI/N

athan William

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6 NEWS

Formula One mastermind Ross Brawn has inspired teams from some of London’s leading companies to raise £360,000 in just 8 months, most of which will be used to fund a new E class lifeboat for the River Thames.

The 10 teams taking part in the Brawn Lifeboat Challenge were also competing against each other – as the team that contributed the most to the total were to be taken to the European Grand Prix in Valencia as Ross's VIP guests.

The lucky racefans (and now RNLI supporters too) turned out to be from Zurich Insurance, who took on challenges including skydives,

marathons and a London-to-Brighton bike race to secure their place at the top of the leaderboard.

Ross says: ‘I’m very much aware of the work of the RNLI, both in London and around the coast, and its status as an independent charity. The opportunity to be involved so closely with this new initiative, which is enabling the RNLI to put a new lifeboat on the River Thames, is something that I am incredibly proud to be associated with.’

The new E class lifeboat will be shared between Tower and Chiswick Lifeboat Stations, and we expect it to be in service early next year.

Brawn teams fund new London lifeboat

A number of RNLI people have been named on HM The Queen’s New Year Honours list:• OBE: Richard Edward

Dominic Langford, Chairman of the RYA and Ex-Officio Member of the RNLI Council, for services to sailing and windsurfing

• MBE: Ian Jones, for service to the RNLI in Llandudno, Gwynedd

• MBE: Doris Langford, for voluntary service to the RNLI in Norwich, Norfolk

• MBE: Charles Knight Tulloch, for voluntary service to the RNLI in Kinghorn, Fife.

Congratulations and thank you to all.

New Year Honours

The RNLI Sea Survival Experience was named Best Teambuilding Event at the 2010 Eventia Awards.

The experience, which takes place at the Lifeboat College, was developed by RNLI trainers to show corporate groups what it’s like to train as a lifeboat crew member.

Participants pay for the privilege of jumping into the wave tank, learning survival techniques in simulated rough

weather, and spending some time in a liferaft – and if that doesn’t help your team form a bond, we don’t know what will!

If your company would like to take on the Sea Survival Experience, visit rnli.org.uk/teambuilding or call 0870 833 2000 (UK) or 0044 1202 662261 (RoI).

Sea Survival Trainers Grant Walkey, Perry Simpson, Chris Walker and Alex Saywell are pictured with the award.

Survival experience is top teambuilder

The Alison Saunders’ Lifeguarding Award 2010 will be presented to Jamie Rowlands and Andy Waterfield of Polzeath Beach, Cornwall, for rescuing two surfers on 29 October.

In a demonstration of seamanship worthy of an experienced lifeboat helm, Jamie took the inshore rescue boat through 2m breaking surf in force 6 winds, while Andrew, as crew, focused on the casualties.

The award, sponsored by former RNLI Deputy Chairman Alison Saunders, honours the most meritorious rescue of the season by RNLI lifeguards.

We’ll carry a more detailed report on the rescue in the Summer issue of the Lifeboat.

Lifeguards award

Photo: RNLI/N

athan William

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8 9NEWSNEWS

Lifeboat naming ceremonies are always significant occasions, but few have attracted as much attention as the one that took place at Trearddur Bay Lifeboat Station, Anglesey, in February.

The world’s media mingled with over 1,000 RNLI supporters outside the lifeboat station as volunteers waited to greet two very special guests: HRH Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton, who are due to be married in April.

As an RAF search and rescue helicopter

pilot based at nearby Valley, Prince William was invited to name a new Atlantic 85 lifeboat that is now being used by his fellow sea rescuers at Trearddur Bay. In his speech, he acknowledged the relationship that had developed over the years between his squadron and the lifeboat crew.

Other speakers included Marilyn Archer from the RNLI Leominster Branch. She was representing the Herefordshire volunteers and supporters who raised funds for the lifeboat, along with local fundraisers.

She said: ‘It’s amazing to think that the pennies and pounds from our events and collections, together with the efforts of the people of Herefordshire, will now be saving priceless lives.’

When it came to formally naming the lifeboat, Miss Middleton prepared to pour champagne over the bow of the Atlantic 85 as Prince William said: ‘It now gives us great pleasure to name this new lifeboat Hereford Endeavour. May God bless her and all that sail in her.’

A Royal engagement SUMMER SEASIDE SPECIALStay at the RNLI College in Poole for 2 nights’ bed and breakfast or more, in June, July or August 2011 to qualify for these very special Summer prices.£75.00 double occupancy, per night £62.50 single occupancy, per nightand if you book by 30 April you will get FREE ICE CREAM AND SEASIDE ROCK!This year, it makes more sense than ever to holiday in the UK. You’ll avoid airport delays and probably spend less than if you travel to the Eurozone, and whatever money you do spend at the RNLI College, will help save lives.Terms and conditions: Offer includes one ice cream and one stick of rock, per guest, per stay when booked by 30 April 2011. Offer is subject to availability on selected dates.

The Lifeboat College

To book, call 0870 833 2000 or email tlc_reception@rnli.org.uk For offers and special breaks throughout the year, keep an eye on our website at rnli.org.uk/tlc_offers

Every £1 spent at the Lifeboat College helps the RNLI save lives at sea.A charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland

The RNLI College, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZA charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY2678 in the Republic of Ireland

Delicious Food

Words: Mairéad Dwane, Rory StampPhotos: RNLI/(Tony Roddam, Nathan Williams)

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Once she’s recruited her team, Lucy is also involved in training, motivating and organising them. ‘What I explain to them is that they are not selling. They are not chuggers. They are simply being passionate about what the RNLI does. That passion is infectious, and that’s why people sign up. Once the season has started, I regularly speak to the beach owners and the lifeboat stations and check that my teams are representing the RNLI properly.’

Among those who find it easy to talk passionately about the RNLI are Alex Margoram and Nicole Slaney. They met lifeboat crew members and lifeguards as part of their training before taking to the beaches to recruit supporters last Summer. ‘When you talk to the lifesavers and see the rescue footage, it’s humbling and a real motivation to encourage more support,’ says 23-year-old Nicole. ‘Our training also involves role play, which increases your confidence. We do team-building exercises too, because we have joint targets rather than individual ones. That way we’re always supporting and helping each other rather than competing.’

In September 2010, something happened that made Alex, a 22-year-old Masters student, especially thankful for the RNLI’s lifesaving expertise. ‘I had spent all Summer telling people: “you never know when you might need the RNLI,” and then my brother broke his neck while surfing. He was on Fistral Beach in Cornwall, fell off his board and smashed two vertebrae. The RNLI lifeguards put him on a spinal board, gave him oxygen, and handed him over to an ambulance. He had an emergency operation and is fine now. But it was an unstable fracture so, if the lifeguards hadn’t been there, it could have been a lot worse.’

Not all of the people who Nicole and Alex approach share their enthusiasm for the RNLI – so how do recruiters respond when someone says they don’t want to become a supporter? ‘Well, if people say no, we still talk to them rather than moving on to the next person,’ says Nicole. ‘Hopefully we’re planting a seed that will mean they’ll listen to safety messages in the future, or eventually make a donation. I have chatted to people at various times during their holiday and then something will happen and they sign up.

‘One woman told me she thought the lifeguards were a waste of money because she hadn’t seen them rescue anyone. But, at that moment, they rescued two boys

from the sea in front of our eyes. On another occasion someone asked me where the nearest bus stop was and, after I told him, we talked a bit about the RNLI and he was so impressed with the charity that he signed up as a supporter!’

This Summer there will be more face-to-face fundraisers than ever, encouraging seaside visitors to support the RNLI. Why is the charity placing more of an emphasis on this method of garnering support? ‘We are reaching a new audience,’ explains Lucy Smith. ‘Although we approach people of all ages, the average age of someone who signs up as a regular supporter

on the beach is 35. Often, they are young families who appreciate the fact that the beach is a safer place thanks to the RNLI. And their regular gift is vital, because it’s sustainable. It helps the charity plan for lifesaving in the future. A one-off donation is great, but if someone signed up and gave 5 or 8 years of support, you wouldn’t be able to carry the coins away!’

So, if you are approached by an RNLI face-to-face fundraiser this Summer, don’t fear the hard sell – and don’t expect to be shunned when he or she realises you are already a supporter (and therefore won't be signing up as a new regular giver). ‘Anyone who gives to the charity is a lifesaver. And we know how much the lifeboat crews and lifeguards appreciate it,’ says Lucy. ‘Our existing supporters are part of the RNLI family, so the teams love talking to them about saving lives at sea. It’s our favourite subject!’

10 SPIRITSPIRIT

There’s a word for a certain kind of charity worker that, in the past few years, has grown from urban slang to a term recognised in the Oxford Dictionary: chugger. It means ‘a person who approaches passers-by in the street asking for donations or subscriptions to a charity’. Made from the combination of the words ‘charity’ and ‘mugger’, it’s a less than complimentary term, usually directed at dogged agency staff who you’ll find (or who will find you) in busy shopping areas.

Say ‘chugger’ to one of the RNLI’s face-to-face fundraisers, though, and they’ll point out that they’re a very different breed. For a start, if a face-to-face fundraiser approaches you and asks if you’d like to make a regular donation to the RNLI, the chances are you won’t be in a high street. You’ll probably be by the sea, or at an event such as a lifeboat station open day or boatshow. And the person talking to you will be working for one charity only.

So, where does the RNLI find these outgoing people who relish the challenge of gaining more support for the RNLI? That task falls to people such as Lucy Smith. Lucy, who manages RNLI face-to-face fundraisers in the South Devon and Dorset area, finds candidates through universities and, increasingly, surf lifesaving clubs. ‘We get some fantastic young people! We are proud not to use agency fundraisers. Compared with other charities our costs are far lower,’ she points out.

But why does the RNLI need staff rather than volunteers for this role? ‘For most, it’s a full-time role in the Summer. We need people who can commit to the entirety of July and August, from 10–6pm, 5 days a week including weekends, and to have specialised training beforehand,’ explains Lucy. ‘However, we do have a number of volunteers who work with us just at the big events – they are a huge asset to the team and we’re always working towards having more.’

Facing up to fundraisingLifesavers won’t be the only people working hard in aid of the RNLI on the coast this Summer – meet the gang who want to chat rather than ‘chug’ …

' That passion is infectious, and that’s why people sign up.'

RNLI Face-to-Face Fundraiser Nicole Slaney says: 'When you see the rescue footage it's a real motivation.'

Words: Rory StampPhotos: RNLI/Nathan Williams

Izaak (5) Matthew (7)

14 MEMBERSHIP

Ahoy there!Q What do a gallantry medallist, a member of the Royal

Family and a soap star have in common?

A They are all former members of Storm Force!There’s one group of RNLI supporters we don’t hear about very often: they are lifeboat and lifeguard mad, they raise money in all sorts of inventive ways, send letters and pictures to Headquarters by the truckload and are, quite literally, the future of the charity.

These devoted fans are members of Storm Force, the RNLI’s club for young people, and they had some great news in February when their beloved mascot Stormy Stan got a new crew and their magazine had an exciting makeover. The latest recruits also get a welcome pack that is bound to make them the envy of their school mates.

Why Storm Force?The RNLI has played a key role in educating young people about water safety for decades and it has a range of programmes and materials to get its messages across. But it has long realised that other, less formal forms of engagement are important too and that nurturing all of these relationships is vital to securing future financial support.

With this in mind, the charity launched Storm Force at the London Boat Show back in 1985 – a fun way for children to be involved in ‘the exciting world of lifeboats’. Young actor Erkan Mustafa (aka Roland Browning of BBC TV’s Grange Hill) became the first

to sign up, helping to make the club an overnight success. Membership grew rapidly and, 2 years later, got royal approval when Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips, joined the fold.

A competition to design a club mascot saw one young man creating ‘Stormy Stan the lifeboatman’. Tough and dependable, caring and friendly, Stan soon became the heart and soul of the club. Even today he ‘personally’ replies to every single letter and can often be seen larger-than-life at RNLI events across the UK and RoI.

Growing upStorm Force magazine is enjoyed by children and adults alike and, although early members have now grown up, that knowledge and enthusiasm has translated into ongoing support. We’re not just talking membership or fundraising – some even go on to be crew members or lifeguards, just like Cleethorpes Helmsman and Gallantry Silver Medallist Gary Barlow who admits: ‘I remember being inspired by the rescue stories in Storm Force magazine!’

Membership held strong for 2 decades but by 2006 it started to wane. This period saw a leap in UK householders installing broadband internet, giving their children access to free, media-rich resources.

15MEMBERSHIP

JOIN NOW!At just £7.50/€10.50 a year, Storm Force makes a great gift. Do you know a youngster who would enjoy being part of Stan’s crew? And whole classes, Scouts, Guides and other youth groups are eligible for special Storm Force group membership. Find out more at rnli.org.uk/stormforce or phone 0845 121 4999.

It was becoming clear that poor old Stormy wasn’t really cutting it with this new breed of web-savvy kids. But, by the time Storm Force celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2010, the RNLI had completed its research and formed plans to give it a new lease of life.

The new crewStorm Force needed to refocus on its core members of 5–11 year-olds. So a new chapter began with the search for a new crew for Stan. The children were asked to help by voting for their favourite character ideas and the RNLI’s creative team got to work to flesh out the most popular: the loyal and loveable Mechanic Ruff the dog; Second Coxswain Roger the parrot; Tractor Driver Choppy the cat and Crew Members Petey and Polly Puffin. To bring the gang right up to date it also includes lifeguarding seals Dillon, Grace and Fynn – led by Stan’s niece, Sandy.

Bringing production in-house and making savings on the printing meant that the magazine could more than double in size to 20 pages for a lower cost. The result is a bigger and brighter read with more rescue stories, news, activities, comic strips, water safety advice, educational articles and competitions with cool prizes – exactly what the kids had asked for!

The new membership pack contains fewer items than before but they’re better quality: an exclusive ‘crew’ bag, a pencil tin and contents, stickers, a poster

Membership of Storm Force can have surprising results. When an 11-year-old lad fell off his bike and into a canal, he knew what to do: ‘I went right under,’ he said. ‘But I remembered something I had read in Storm Force magazine, so I stuck my hand in the air, which is to show you are in trouble.’ Four people spotted his signal and dragged him to safety.

and an activity booklet – as well as a membership card and a different badge for every year of membership. Storm Forcers also have a fresh incentive to get their friends to join too with the offer of a mystery prize.

The futureThis relaunch marks just phase one of a wider RNLI youth strategy: Storm Force is well loved by our younger supporters but what about those older

children and teenagers with a social conscience, spending power and the internet at their fingertips? Traditional membership just won’t do, so work is underway on a second project to help engage these young supporters of tomorrow.

Words: Jon JonesCharacter illustrations: Piers Baker

‘ I really like being a member of this club! I think the crew are very special people.’

Rebekah (9), Aberdeenshire

Euan (9)

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Words: Mairéad DwanePhotos: Nicholas Leach, RNLI/(Fistral, Lowestoft, Newbiggin, Howth).

BEACH VOLUNTEERS SAVE LIFERNLI lifeguards on Fistral Beach, Cornwall, volunteered to carry out weekend patrols without pay last Winter. It was a good job they were there on 7 November 2010, when a bodyboard instructor carried out a headcount after leaving the water – to find one of his group was missing. He informed the lifeguards, who used binoculars to spot the 13-year-old boy just about to drift out of sight. One lifeguard kept an eye on the child’s position, while another went and rescued him on a rescue watercraft. The boy had swallowed some water and was in shock, but otherwise fine.

MORNING MEDEVACLowestoft’s 14m Tyne class lifeboat Spirit of Lowestoft was called out to the 159m cargo vessel American Tern on 15 November 2010 (pictured). Just before 7am, one of the cargo ship’s crew had crushed his thumb in a hatch and needed medical attention. He was taken onboard Lowestoft lifeboat 4 miles from the Suffolk town, and met by ambulance crew on arriving ashore.

LOCAL HEROESArbroath’s Mersey class lifeboat Inchcape launched at 9.45pm on 26 November 2010, to go to the aid of a fishing boat in difficulty in 6m seas and force 8 winds. If the vessel had maintained her course, she would have gone aground on Gaa Sands. But Coxswain Tommy Yule used his exceptional local knowledge to advise and guide the fishing boat’s skipper to safer waters. Passage back to the station was very slow in heavy breaking seas, big swell and pitch blackness but the crew did well to bring Inchcape home without incident.

LUCKY ESCAPEHowth lifeboat crew rushed to the aid of a woman whose car went over the harbour wall on 10 January. She escaped from the car and members of the public helped her to safety. The lifeboat crew then gave first aid to the woman, who was having difficulty breathing and bordering on hypothermia. Once the crew had her stabilised, she was taken to hospital.

FAMILY AFFAIRNewbiggin lifeboat had a call out with a twist on 15 November 2010, as two members of the crew found themselves rescuing some familiar faces. Two men in the traditional fishing coble Crystal Sea called Humber Coastguard at 10.40am, reporting a fouled propeller. Within minutes, the B class lifeboat CSMA 75th Anniversary was underway, with the fishermen’s crew member sons onboard. The coble was towed safely ashore. Lifeboat Press Officer Richard Martin says: ‘It’s unusual to rescue a family member but lifeboat volunteers never know what they are going to find when they are called out to an incident at sea.’

LONG ROAD HOMESt Bees lifeboat crew faced gale-force winds, heavy rain, rough seas and poor visibility on 1 November 2010 while searching for a man 11 miles from the station. Coastguards recovered the man but the weather had got so bad it wasn’t safe to attempt passage back to St Bees. Arrangements were made to bring the B class lifeboat Joy Morris MBE back to station by road so that she’d be available if there were any more emergencies. It took over 2 hours to bring her back through the narrow country roads, on her trailer, under Police and Coastguard escort.

11

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The RNLI’s lifeboats and lifeguards carry out thousands of rescues every year (see Launches on page 46). Here are just a few caught on camera and see the list below for more in-depth reports.

7 Fraserburgh, pages 19–21 8 Swanage, pages 22–23 9 Tenby, page 25 10 Booby’s, pages 26–27 11 Mallaig, pages 28–29

17RESCUE16

It was quick thinking, forward planning and great teamwork by the local lifeboat crew that saved his life. Added to this was the courage of two young crew members, who braved the water to bring him back to safety.

Duty Coxswain Victor Sutherland was at home on the evening of Monday 8 November 2010 when he received a call at 9pm to be told that a fisherman had fallen overboard in the harbour. Owing to a communications failure, the man was thought to have been in the water for at least 10 minutes before this call was made.

The fisherman wore only jeans and a T-shirt and no lifejacket. At that time of year, with a water temperature of 7°C, he would have been unable to maintain consciousness for much longer than half an hour. Even after a short time in cold water, muscle

functions are quickly impaired making it very difficult for casualties to do anything to help themselves.

Earlier that day, the Trent class lifeboat Willie and May Gall had been moved into the town’s inner harbour to protect her from damage due to near gale force 7 winds. On receiving the call out, some crew headed for the station while others raced straight to the harbour and started up the boat’s engines.

Realising that time was of the essence Victor instructed Jason Flett (22) and Charles Cumming (18) to don drysuits in case they had to enter the water. They then ran a quarter of a mile to the lifeboat’s temporary mooring and still managed to make it to the casualty within 10 minutes of the call out.

The man’s cries as he fell had alerted fishermen on neighbouring vessels who came to his aid, passing ropes and trying to drag him onboard. After failing to get him over the high sides of a boat, they had dragged him towards steps on the harbour wall.

However, since it was low tide this would have meant an 8m climb for the casualty and in Victor’s words: ‘It would have been nearly impossible to achieve that.’ Had the man remained in the water

Northern Exposure

RESCUE 19

Crew Members Jason Flett and Charles Cumming in the water at Fraserburgh Harbour

On a squally November night, time was rapidly running out for a fisherman in the water in Fraserburgh Harbour

21RESCUE

he would either have succumbed to hypothermia or been crushed by the fishing vessels against the side of the harbour wall. ‘He was very, very lucky that he managed to hang on that long,’ said the Coxswain.

A web of mooring lines from the quayside to the fishing boats would have delayed the lifeboat's progress but Crew Members Albert Sutherland and Colin McLeman, who had rushed straight to the

harbour, had the quick-thinking to clear these out of the way.

Unfortunately, the rescue team still couldn’t get close enough, so the crew in drysuits were instructed to jump in with safety lines and bring him back. Both these young men had been on the crew for

less than a year. While the man was recovered, the A-frame and

first aid equipment were readied onboard. In cases of immersion hypothermia, A-frames are important as they allow casualties to be lifted out of the water horizontally. If someone has been in cold water for some time and is then lifted vertically, it can put great pressure on the heart and circulatory system, sometimes resulting in sudden death.

Once safely aboard, the casualty was wrapped in blankets and given oxygen. He was drifting in and out of consciousness and had swallowed large amounts of water so he was taken by ambulance to hospital in Aberdeen.

Fraserburgh is the largest shellfish port in Europe as well as hosting one of the largest whitefish fleets. Many of the town’s boats head to fishing grounds

far out to sea so the lifeboat can be called as far as 75 miles offshore.

The dangerous conditions of the North Sea mean that the town has seen many casualties including the loss of 13 lifeboatmen in the station’s 152 years of operation. Last year a local campaign raised £40,000 to erect a memorial to these men.

Jason, who works as an exhaust and tyre engineer, had become a crew member at the start of last year. He described the situation as having been nerve-racking because it was dark and difficult to see.

Charles, a marine engineer, had only joined the crew in June. Asked how he felt when ordered into the water, he says: ‘I just went into autopilot. We had to do what we had to do.’ He explains: 'I had joined the RNLI in memory of my great grandfather Andrew Ritchie who was one of six Fraserburgh lifeboatmen to lose their lives in 1953.'

Speaking of his crew, Victor says: ‘I can’t commend the guys enough. It was a difficult situation with a lot of stress, people calling from the quayside and the time being so short.’ In the words of RNLI Operations Director Michael Vlasto in a Letter of Appreciation: ‘There is no doubt that this man owes his life to the actions of all those involved at Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station.’

Words: Joanna RochePhotos: RNLI/Nigel Millard

Above: Quick-thinking crew members cleared the many quayside mooring lines

Below: Lifeboat and crew at Fraserburgh Harbour wall

‘ He was very, very lucky that he managed to hang on that long’

Lifeboat crews rescue over 8,000 people every year, sometimes in atrocious conditions. Six out of ten lifeboat launches are only possible because of gifts left in people’s Wills.

We know your family comes first, and that Wills are a very private matter. So we promise to leave you to make your own decision. All we suggest is that you give a little thought to supporting our volunteer lifeboat crews with a small proportion of your Will. For your free information pack about leaving a gift to charity in your Will, plus Courage is Timeless – our book of inspiring acts of bravery by lifeboat crews – return the coupon below or visit rnli.org.uk/legacies

Remember the volunteer lifeboat crews

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We never give your infromation to other organisations for marketing purposes. Your details will be used by the RNLI and passed to RNLI trading companies. We would only give your data to another organisation if required to do so by law. If you do not want to receive information about other ways to support the RNLI, please tick here. o DPA

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2322 RESCUERESCUE

Close callSwanage volunteers were rudely awoken at 5.25am one Sunday. Within just 10 minutes both station lifeboats were alongside a sinking vesselOn 9 October 2010, Swanage lifeboat and shore crews had to wake up quickly – in body and mind – in answer to a mayday. It came from just 250m east of the lifeboat station but was none-the-less in earnest. A 10m yacht with two people onboard had run aground on Peveril Ledge and was taking on water.

A matter of minutesHelmsman Gavin Steeden (pictured left) recalls: ‘It was really, really dark – no stars and no Moon.’ The experienced

crew members all knew what they had to do. By 5.35am, the Mersey class lifeboat’s search light was illuminating the yacht as the inshore lifeboat manoeuvred into the shallows to get the man and woman off.

Against a wave height of 1m and force 4 north easterly winds, the inshore lifeboat tried to approach the yacht from the south, using the casualty vessel as a shield. But the water was too shallow, so they had to brave exposure to the conditions further east.

DETAILSINSHORE LIFEBOATD class D-613 Jack Cleare

ON STATION27 August 2003, funded by Mrs Phyl Cleare

THE CREWHelm Gavin Steeden (30, Carpenter)John Deas (35, RNLI Design Engineer)James Chadwick (27, MoD Vehicle Fitter)

ALL-WEATHER LIFEBOATMersey class ON-1182 (12-23) Robert Charles Brown

ON STATION12 June 1992, funded by a regional appeal with other gifts and legacies

THE CREWSecond Coxswain Robert Aggas (43, RNLI Fleet Operations Manager)Full-time Mechanic David Turnbull (37)Paul Elleray (46, Gardener)Steve Williams (46, Software Engineer)Tom Greasty (27, Angling Boat Skipper)Matt Steeden (27, Marine Engineer)Anthony Corben (33, Estate Agent)

History repeats itselfThis rescue had a particular resonance with the Swanage crew. On Peveril Ledge in 1875, a brigantine Wild Wave was wrecked and Coastguard Chief Officer John Lose led nine men to rescue four men and a boy. Present-day Mechanic Dave Turnbull comments: ‘It was virtually the same place. We’re effectively doing the same job as they were 135 years ago and it was that rescue that led to the establishment of Swanage Lifeboat Station.’

They quickly dropped anchor and veered down (reversed in) towards the buffeted yacht. Gavin comments: ‘It was tricky but we’d practised this. I was aware that the boat was going up and down a bit, it was pitch black and I was in bed 10 minutes ago!’

Power cutOut of the blue, things got tougher for the Helm as the D class lifeboat lost 80% of its engine power. Even when the engine briefly cut out, Gavin kept cool and successfully manoeuvred the lifeboat alongside the yacht.

The damaged yacht had been pushed further up the rocks and was still upright. The deck was now 1m above the lifeboat and the volunteers were conscious of the threat of a large steel anchor hovering over them.

With the noise of waves crashing on the rocks, it took the shouts of Crew Member John Deas to get through to the people on the yacht. At 5.53am, in the darkness, the pair jumped onto the lifeboat, as Gavin explains: ‘They were keen to get off, and pretty sprightly.’

Instead of fighting with limited power to get the casualties to the relative comfort of the all-weather lifeboat, the crew headed directly for their slipway with the heavy sea behind them. A couple of huge waves crashed over them, quite shocking the rescuees, but they were back on dry land.

The engine now regained full power so the lifeboatmen returned to the yacht in case she could be saved. In the early light of day Gavin could distinguish that ‘the rocks had punched a great big hole in the side of the yacht; it was going to break up and sink'. The crew watched as the yacht was thrown

around in the waves and rocks. Clearly it was a lost cause. Gavin comments: ‘We’re not going to risk the crew for the sake of a yacht that is holed already.’ The Helm later joked that he’d been grateful it had been dark when they’d got the two people off: ‘It was almost more scary as it was getting light!’

Meanwhile, in the lifeboat station, the yachtsman was experiencing back pain so the crew called an ambulance. Paramedics examined him and fortunately found no serious injury.

Yacht lostOnce both lifeboats were back at the station, the crews were reluctant to disperse. Mechanic Dave Turnbull reflects: ‘It was sobering to see the boat from our slipway, watching it breaking into pieces.’

The pair who had escaped with their lives watched their craft disintegrate and their property be strewn across the water. With the tide ebbing, some members of the public were scavenging on the rocks but the crew retrieved a few personal belongings for the pair.

Mid-morning the lifeboatmen and women finally left the station and went for a well-earned breakfast at a local café. They never discovered what had gone wrong with the inshore lifeboat engine, which had been fine in training and in checks before and after the service. But people who put their lives at risk need 100% confidence in their vessel so a new engine arrived from Headquarters later the same morning.

Words: Bethany HopePhotos: RNLI/(Swanage, Nigel Millard)

SwanageLifeboatStation

Peve

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216m approximately

Panic can paralyse. For nutritional therapist Julie Brooks (45), it struck during an activity she had completed many times before – walking from her holiday digs in Lydstep, Pembrokeshire, to Tenby. But this time, the tide came in quicker than she expected, and the weather took a swift turn for the worse.

Also out on the walk, on Thursday 4 November 2010, were Julie’s children Michael (17), Simon (11) and Caitlin (10). While the young ones went on ahead, looking in rock pools, Julie hurried along as the tide came in behind her. Running out of beach, the group found the rocks becoming steeper and more slippery, under a sky turning uglier by the minute.

‘Michael, a 6-footer, looked like he was struggling,’ Julie says, ‘but he helped the younger children on. That was when I started to feel the danger.’ Julie became frozen to the spot – too scared to go forward but with the incoming tide forbidding a retreat. ‘I could see the weather worsening, and it was getting dark. My body shut down; I felt sick and couldn’t move a muscle.’ She dialled 999.

Tenby’s all-weather lifeboat, the Tamar class Haydn Miller, was launched at 2.10pm into a force 6 wind and rough seas with a 1.5m swell.

Arriving at Lydstep Haven at 2.24pm, two crew members made their way to the cliff-face onboard the Tamar’s inflatable daughter Y boat (pictured). They climbed up to Julie’s position, and established that Michael had helped his younger siblings to safety. Julie recalls: ‘I had been standing on one foot, which had gone numb, holding on with one hand, with my phone in the other. The two guys got my ankles and walked me back to a safer spot. I said I didn’t mind jumping into the small boat, but they said it was too dangerous – I was shaking and already freezing.’

Cold sweatAs the tide rose, the trio had to keep

climbing beyond the water’s reach. They were to spend almost 2 hours together on the cliff-face that day. Julie says: ‘I was really frightened, but they tried to keep my spirits up. They were talking about how one of the crew had been called away from doing his shopping at Tesco for the shout, about volunteering, about being called away from work, and they kept me warm with a silver blanket.’

By now, conditions in the cove had got too rough for the little Y boat, with a 2.5m swell, so Tenby’s inshore lifeboat, the D class Georgina Taylor, was launched. It was even a little rough for this craft, whose crew had to request a partial escort to the scene from the bulkier Haydn Miller.

A member of the local Coastguard cliff rescue team came down on a rope to Julie, fitting her with a harness and lifejacket, with the intention of lowering her to the water’s edge and into the D class lifeboat. But as the sea state continued to worsen, it was decided to lift Julie by helicopter to the cliff-top and her waiting family.

She says: ‘Once I was up on the grassy ledge above, the coastguards checked my temperature and said to my husband: “She needs to go home and have a hot bath and a hot drink.” I was traumatised, and spent the night crying. I went down to Tenby Lifeboat Station the next day, still feeling fragile, but they were great. I wish it had never happened but remember the incident and its outcome with gratitude.’

Words: Mairéad DwanePhoto: RNLI/Tenby

25RESCUE

2726 RESCUERESCUE

Fine weather attracted thousands of Bank Holiday visitors to Cornish beaches on 30 August, not least to Booby’s Bay, where sea swells were occasionally sending powerful waves crashing onto the shore. Among the people enjoying the surf was Chris Hart from Devon.

The 46-year-old was bodyboarding when a surging wave swept him ashore and smashed him head first onto a sandbar. ‘I remember thinking "that hurt" and swallowing a good deal of water before getting to my feet,’ he recalls. 'I walked out of the water and recall a lot of blood pouring down my face.' Volunteer RNLI Lifeguard Adrian Mayhew, who lives in Worcestershire and gave up over 100 hours of his free time to lifeguarding last year, saw Chris and offered first aid at the lifeguard hut. At this point Chris thought he'd suffered little more than a cut head, and walked to the hut by himself. 'By the time I got there I was obviously starting to talk a lot of garbage and starting to realise I'd hurt my neck and back,' he says.

MANIC MONDAYRNLI lifeguards were busy throughout Summer 2010 and, for those in north Cornwall, the most challenging day came right at the end of the season

Lifeguard Supervisor Dan Hutton was at the hut and tended to Chris. 'He was confused and disorientated – he had started to suffer from concussion. I treated his cut and, when I managed to get him to explain what had happened, I realised there was the possibility of spinal injury too. Getting an abrasion cut on your head from sand requires a lot of force, which can impact the rest of the body.' Having used the hut's stretcher for another potential spinal injury just half an hour before, Dan used his radio to request an ambulance and asked Lifeguard Dominic Wilson to bring another from the lifeguard hut at neighbouring Constantine Bay, half a mile away. Running at full sprint, Dominic arrived with the stretcher in minutes. Dan fitted Chris with a protective collar and strapped him to the stretcher.

While Dan was applying pressure to Chris's cut and waiting for the ambulance, the rest of the Booby's Bay lifeguard team were dealing with incident after incident. 'It was so busy that we had to ask the Constantine lifeguards to come and help with their inshore rescue boat,' says Dan.

When the ambulance arrived, Chris was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Truro. ‘Having become an RNLI member a couple of years ago, I knew the lifeguards do a brilliant job. I now have first-hand experience,’ says Chris, who was treated and checked over in hospital. ‘There was no permanent damage, just cuts, a whiplash injury to my neck and bruised pride! My special thanks go to all at the lifeguard hut, especially Dan for taking charge when I was concussed and not making a lot of sense. And I thank them for looking after my wife during the whole episode. I count myself lucky to have come off relatively lightly.’

That incident was just one of 35 attended by lifeguards at Booby’s Bay and neighbouring Treyarnon on that day. ‘These were mainly to bathers and bodyboarders caught in the rip currents around low tide,’ says Dan. ‘But there was also a girl who’d hurt herself jumping 8–10m off a cliff at Treyarnon. We treated a surfer too who crashed onto the shore just like Chris did. But none of them resulted in spinal injuries, possibly due to our treatment.’

Volunteer Adrian has since paid tribute to his fellow lifeguards that day. ‘In 20 years of lifeguarding I’ve seen some busy days but nothing like that. I’d hate to think what would have happened if there hadn’t been lifeguards on hand. I’m 40, but so many of the lifeguards are achieving great things at a young age. They are so good at what they do,’ he enthuses. ‘One of them was Vinny Prescott, an 18-year-old doing his first RNLI lifeguard season – he’s a Harlyn Bay Surf Life Saving Club member. He went about everything uncomplainingly and professionally. He got years worth of experience in one shift! It was a day I’ll never forget. I wish I could have wrapped up everything we did and put it on show as an example of what RNLI lifeguarding is all about. That’s why I volunteer – I’m proud to be an RNLI lifeguard.’

Words: Rory StampPhoto: RNLI/Nigel Millard

Lifeguard Supervisor Dan Hutton (pictured during a training exercise) was among the lifeguards who faced a manic Bank Holiday

28 29RESCUERESCUE

Tuesday 2 November 2010 was what’s known locally as a ‘brown day’ – 50mph winds and driving rain – when Mallaig Lifeboat Operations Manager Alex Mathieson received a call from Stornoway Coastguard. It was 10.17am and the coaster was lying stricken 4 miles south west of the remote Hebridean island – she would ground in less than 3 hours.

With six crew and around 1,200 tonnes of coal onboard, this would be disastrous. Even if the Red Duchess missed the rocks, she would be swept into Harris Bay, catastrophic for a nature reserve. The Coastguard Emergency Towing Vehicle Anglian Prince was still more than 6 hours away. Mallaig lifeboat was 23 miles away but could reach Red Duchess within 2 hours.

Alex contacted Coxswain Michael Ian Currie. ‘Generally we go out to fishing boats

it was just like a ghost ship,’ recalls Alex. The lifeboat was taking such a pounding that she had to reduce speed to 10 knots

Rum loomsHenry Alston Hewat arrived just before noon to find the coaster lying broadside taking the full impact of the force 9 winds and carrying a lot of water. She was in great danger: in the 90 minutes since the lifeboat had launched, the Red Duchess had drifted to within 2 miles of the island. Her crew were understandably relieved: they had watched powerlessly as the cliffs of Rum loomed ominously closer.

‘If we put our boat alongside we would do damage to ourselves,’ reflects Michael Ian. ‘I remember thinking: “How is this wee lifeboat going to cope with this huge ship?”’ A good question with the lifeboat weighing 45 tonnes and the Red Duchess, plus load, a hefty 2,500 tonnes. The Coxswain told the Captain that his crew were going to attempt to throw a tow rope. This would require a close approach and men from both vessels to be on deck – a truly dangerous prospect.

Michael Ian took the lifeboat upwind of the coaster towards the stern and then let her fall back. Crew Member Hugh Cameron threw out a heaving line and was successful at the first attempt. It took four volunteers on the aft deck to connect the heavier tow rope – the lifeboat was rocking badly and they were practically on their hands and knees.

Stamina and tensionThe crew didn’t attempt to tow the Red Duchess. The task was to keep her stern to the wind. ‘The Red Duchess was not behaving herself at all,’ Michael Ian recalls with a laugh. ‘We were a long time going up and down, backwards and forwards – not recommended!’ Yet they succeeded in reducing her drift from 1.5 knots to less than 0.5 knots.

‘I have been out in poorer weather,’ remembers Assistant Mechanic Kevin. ‘But it was the endurance factor: 6 hours head up to the wind – nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. Luckily, despite my sickness the night before, my stomach held up!’

Mallaig's crew were confident they had the situation under control but it was not easy. Michael Ian stayed at the helm the whole time: the Red Duchess couldn’t be allowed to get caught by the weather because that would put both her and the lifeboat in danger. He had to keep the correct tension on a tow rope that wasn’t designed for such weight or weather.

Crew Member Stuart Griffin is full of praise for his Coxswain’s skill and tenacity. ‘Imagine the level of concentration that took; being on your feet that long and not hardly daring to move – even to go to the toilet!’

But at 6pm, just when the Anglian Prince was arriving, the tow rope snapped.

A royal encounterThe crew of the giant tug successfully set up a tow and the lifeboat crew were thinking about turning for home when the Prince’s tow broke in a shower of sparks, and the Red Duchess fell back to within 1.5 miles of the shore. It would take at least 30 minutes to reattach, by which time the Red Duchess would be almost ashore.

Once again, the lifeboat crew attached a tow and edged Red Duchess back into open water. Within 45 minutes the Anglian Prince had fixed their tow. This time it held.

‘Once they were safely on their way you could feel the static in the air calm. We settled down and relaxed for the journey home. We felt quite high – a job well done, six men saved and a Scottish National Heritage island safe from environmental pollution,’ remembers Michael Ian. He later received a Framed Letter of Thanks from the RNLI's Chairman for his part in the rescue.

On his return Stuart kissed the ground, had a cup of tea and fell into bed! ‘The Red Duchess is the biggest boat we have ever tried to hold: only once have we towed something comparable – but that was in good weather.’

Words: Valerie FrenchPhotos: RNLI/(Nigel Millard, Mallaig)

A weighty endeavourWhen cargo ship Red Duchess’s engines failed in severe gales her crew were helpless to stop her drifting towards the rocky shore of the Isle of Rum …

THE DETAILTHE CREWLifeboat Operations Manager Alexander Mathieson (61), Photographer and ex-Fisherman Full-time Coxswain Michael Ian Currie (51)Assistant Mechanic Kevin P McDonell (38), CEO of West of Scotland Fish Producers’ OrganisationCrew Members Stuart Griffin (37), Fisheries Officer; Hugh Cameron (53), Pier Worker; Cameron Sangan (20), Marine Engineer; and Angus McLean (21) Marine Engineer

THE LIFEBOATSevern class ON-1250 (17-26) Henry Alston Hewat

ON STATIONJanuary 2000, funded by legacy of Catherine Hewat together with an appeal, general gifts and legacies

or yachts of up to 30m. This was a 76m vessel so getting up close could put our crew in danger. I can tell the crew to go but it’s the Coxswain’s decision,’ reflects Alex. Michael Ian weighed up the risks and made the call.

Assistant Mechanic Kevin McDonell was lying in bed when his pager went off. ‘I’d been up all night with a sickness bug so I was fairly nervous about going to sea. I hoped I wasn’t going to the back of the Isle of Rum – it’s so exposed.’ But that’s exactly where Kevin was going.

Within 15 minutes of the Coastguard request, the volunteers had launched the Severn class Henry Alston Hewat – straight into the teeth of a westerly gale and swells of up to 5m. ‘The weather was so poor you could hardly see the lifeboat from the station –

Too close for comfort – the Isle of Rum looms ominously behind Red Duchess

31

Face to Face: Ocean Portraits

By Huw Lewis-JonesReview by Vanessa Clark

This evocative book showcases images from early daguerreotypes to modern-day digital photographs. It includes a gallery of 100 portraits of maritime people from around the world, from the famous (Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Dame Ellen MacArthur) to the unknown (a fisherwoman from Newlyn).

Work has been submitted by leading photographers including many dramatic and graphic images taken by Nigel Millard, who tells us how his interest in the RNLI helped his photography evolve [he is now a crew member]. He discusses the creative and technical decisions made to capture these shots with the other photographers Joni Sternbach, David Doubilet and Rick Tomlinson [a former lifeboat crew member who is featured in the Spring 2011 issue of Offshore].

Most of the images have been captured in the natural environment like that of Lewis Gordon Pugh, the 'human polar bear' shown below. Some have been sourced from historical archives, including the RNLI’s. All communicate the subjects’ personality along with a detailed explanation of their sea connection.

This is a beautiful book of technically sound, dynamic images that you can refer to over and again.

Hardback bookPublished by Conway/Polarworld/Anova BooksISBN 9781844861248Price: £30 (Available as detailed right but also through the RNLI at rnlishop.org.uk, the route of most financial benefit to the charity.)

How to order:Unless other details are stated, all books/CDs reviewed here are available from good bookshops and online from Amazon via the RNLI website at rnli.org.uk/amazon. (Amazon will donate a minimum of 5% of the value of all such orders to the RNLI but you must access Amazon via the RNLI website and not go direct.)

REVIEW

The Review section is compiled by Carol Waterkeyn

Thomas Bush Hardy 1842–1897:Master Painter of Marine and Coastal Watercolours

By David H Kirby-Welch and John Morton Lee Review by Julie Maskell

This is a large and detailed volume packed with over 200 pictures of Hardy’s work that help to bring this self-taught artist to life.

The book sets the scene with an informative history of sailing ships and British marine watercolours. It then moves into my favourite section: a biography of Hardy based on the scant information available about him and his family, many of whom were to inherit his artistic talents.

The bulk of the book is dedicated to the works Hardy was inspired to produce by his travels around the English, Dutch and French coasts and Venice.

The hardback finishes with brief biographies of Hardy’s contemporaries that help to give the reader an insight into the wider factors that influenced artists of the time.

Hardback bookPublished by the Antique Collectors' ClubISBN 9781851495979Price: £35

Seized

By Max HardbergerReview by Kevin Hill

Max Hardberger repossesses ships that have been impounded by corrupt port

authorities in lawless, third-world countries.His adventures take him from the

Caribbean to the Arctic, rescuing ships from Haitian rebels, modern-day pirates and the Russian mafia. If caught, he would face imprisonment or death.

Hardberger avoids violence and uses his wit, humour and local knowledge to overcome adversity. His tactics include employing a witch doctor and hosting a party in a brothel as a distraction.

Captain Max has led an extraordinary life, holding jobs from high-school lecturer to flight instructor to lawyer. But his love of the sea and his hatred of the unscrupulous keeps calling him back to perform his most favoured service.

This is a book like nothing I have read before; a description of the real-life but little-known underworld of international shipping, interwoven with a few fictional names and events – and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Rumour has it that Max is soon to be the subject of a Hollywood film.

Paperback bookPublished by Nicholas Brealey PublishingISBN 9781857885569Price: £9.99

32 33CLOSE UPCLOSE UP

10 years on the beachesThe RNLI prides itself on a long lifesaving tradition but, in order to save more lives, it is alert to changes in how people use the sea

People still go to sea for a living. But by the year 2000, with economies in the UK and RoI thriving and the leisure industry booming, lifeboat rescues were increasingly closer to shore and beaches getting busier.

The most popular beaches were covered by council-employed lifeguards and volunteers from local lifesaving clubs – all doing good work but with different standards, equipment and levels of training. The RNLI envisioned a seamless rescue service from the beach to the open sea. With this in mind, a trial was held in 2001, with RNLI-trained and equipped lifeguards on 22 beaches in Cornwall and Dorset.

The trial proved a success, with 20 lives saved and 3,520 people aided. Most importantly for the future of the scheme, the lifeguards worked well with their colleagues from RNLI lifeboat stations, with the roles

of each arm of the service clearly defined. At the end of the season, the RNLI Trustees gave the go-ahead to carry on lifeguarding. But there was much more work to do …

A lifeguard’s most important piece of kit is himself or herself. It may seem obvious that a lifeguard must be fit, fast and strong, but how are these qualities defined?

The RNLI worked with the University of Portsmouth to clarify the fitness levels required to do the job well. The researchers calculated how fast a lifeguard should be able to run (200m in under 50 seconds) and swim (400m in 7½ minutes) to give a casualty the best chance of survival.

In 2002, the lifeguards hopped onboard rescue watercraft (RWCs), which can do 40 knots, compared with the inshore rescue boat’s 26, and can be handled by a single lifeguard. Lifeguard Training and

Development Manager Brett Shepherd, who started his career at the RNLI as a lifeguard in Bournemouth, says: ‘My highlight of the decade was the introduction of the rescue watercraft – it’s the future of lifeguarding! It’s a fast, responsive rescue tool in the right hands.’

When the 2002 season ended, almost 6,995 more people had been assisted by RNLI lifeguards. On 3 October, Rod MacDonald, who had been patrolling with the RNLI team on Newquay’s Fistral Beach over the Summer, was out walking when he was called upon to rescue a bodyboarder who had got into trouble in a sea churning around the rocky Cornish coastline [see issue 564 of the Lifeboat].

Rod’s courageous out-of-season rescue resulted in his being the first lifeguard to be awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry (left). Further public awareness of the service came with the broadcast of the first series of BBC’s Danger on the Beach, which was later to be renamed Seaside Rescue. For six seasons, the show has been aired on BBC One, bringing the work of RNLI lifeguards (and lifeboats) into the homes of millions.

The number of lives saved by RNLI lifeguards rose

from 22 in 2002 to 27 in 2003, on the same number of beaches. This may seem positive, but the aim of a good lifeguard is to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place. It was time to start educating the public on how to stay safe at the beach. The Meet the Lifeguards programme, set up in 2003, did, and does, exactly what it says on the tin. So far almost 200,000 young people have been given safety messages in a fun way at schools, at clubs and on the beach.

It is estimated that 95% of a good lifeguard’s work is preventative. Two more education programmes were introduced in 2005: Hit the Surf, a beach-based programme that combines safety lessons with surf lifesaving skills (more than 9,000 participants so far), and Beach to City, which brings key messages to

children who live far away from the coast but may visit the seaside on holiday (50,000 participants so far).

But you can’t speak to everybody directly. So, also in 2005, the RNLI Beach Safety Team led the development and introduction of a new UK-wide standard for beach safety flags and signs.

By the start of the 2006 season, there were 62 lifeguard teams on beaches in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. Relationships had been established with beach managers and local authorities around the UK, and

the RNLI set up a risk assessment service to help these decision-makers make their beaches safer, with or without RNLI lifeguards.

2003–4

2002

2001

2005

2006This page: An RNLI lifeguard patrols a busy Newquay beach

Overleaf: Bodyboarders get ready to enjoy the waves at Watergate Bay

In 2007, RNLI lifeguards branched out from the south west of England, taking on five beaches in Norfolk. The year’s other milestone was the award of a Bronze

Medal for Gallantry to Lifeguard Sophie Grant-Crookston (right).

[See the Lifeboat issue 580 or goo.gl/IP2wd].

2007

35CLOSE UP

Words: Mairéad DwanePhotos: Jon Stokes, RNLI/(Derek King, Jonathan Lotriet, Nigel Millard, Greg Spray)

Helly Hansen became an official clothing partner to RNLI Lifeguards in 2010, working with our charity to develop bespoke clothing for the lifeguards in their challenging roles and environment. Throughout our decade on the beaches, we have relied on volunteer lifeguards to support those who are paid to work full-time. In 2010, as watersports’ popularity grew, and

more people holidayed in the UK due to money getting tighter all round, lifeguards at Fistral who had been paid over the Summer volunteered their time for free at weekends in the Autumn. The season was over but the beaches were still busy, and you can read how they saved a life on page 18. Last season, RNLI lifeguards saved 107 lives on 152 beaches.

John Dugard and Chris Boundy (right) became the first lifeguards to be honoured with Silver Medals for Gallantry in 2009. They risked their own lives off Trebarwith Strand to rescue an angler from a turbulent pool known locally as ‘the Washing Machine’ [see the Lifeboat issue 585 or goo.gl/jmKgi].

A little further north, our lifeguards took over patrols on popular beaches in Lincolnshire, as well as

expanding cover in Wales and the West Country.Meanwhile, at Headquarters, the Training

Department was working on a new first aid course for use on the beach. The course was introduced in 2009, and focused on treating symptoms rather than making diagnoses, supported by a set of check cards, quick and easy to use.

RNLI lifeguards’ 2008 debut in Wales brought the service’s patrolled beaches up from 71 to 110. Encouragingly, from a ‘prevention-is-better-than-

cure’ point of view, the average number of incidents requiring lifeguard intervention per beach fell below the 100 mark (87) for the first time.

From a pilot scheme on a handful of beaches to a respected, professional service on more than 160 beaches, the RNLI lifeguard service has come a long way. This year, the lifeguards will make their first forays onto beaches in Northern Ireland and Jersey, as well as going onto more beaches in the north of England.

Looking ahead, Brett Shepherd says: ‘We’ve got some work to do. One challenge will be sustaining the service through the economic downturn. Another will be maintaining the quality of the service as we grow and take on more beaches. However, the bigger our lifeguards service gets, and the more recognised, the safer the beaches will be.’

2008

2009

2011 and on

2010

In 10 years of RNLI Lifeguards

162Lifeguarded beaches

597Lives saved

102,581People aided on beaches

37

WINTER 2010Dr Simon Anderson of Lincolnshire scooped the £7,500 first prize in the Winter Lifeboat Lottery Superdraw and celebrated with a visit to his local lifeboat station at Cleethorpes with his wife, Fiona.

The other cash prize winners were:2nd prize: £4,000; Miss JS Wilson, Cornwall3rd prize: £1,000; Mrs M Robinson, North Yorkshire4th prize: £500; Mrs S Maw, HampshireFive prizes of £250 each; Mr R Mears, Lancashire; Mr AJ Slatter, Surrey; Mrs R Nicholls, Essex; Mrs K Price, Powys; and Miss HRA Aspinall, Cornwall

SUMMER 2011Why not try your luck with the Lifeboat Lottery this Summer? You too could win one of nine cash prizes – including first prize of £5,000! All money raised goes to saving lives at sea.

Tickets will be mailed to supporters on 28 April 2011. If you don’t usually receive tickets and would like to, please call 0845 121 4999 or email lottery@rnli.org.uk.

Please note that due to differing tax and gaming laws, Lifeboat Lottery tickets are only available in England, Scotland and Wales. For full details (including terms and conditions) please visit rnli.org.uk/lottery or see your Lottery letter.

Photo: RNLI/M

ark Spruce

Photo: Tom Collins

Lifeboat Lottery

Right: L–R Winner Simon enjoys meeting Gallantry Medallist (and former Storm Force member – see page 14) Gary Barlow on his VIP visit to Cleethorpes Lifeboat Station

Below: Cleethorpes inshore lifeboat Blue Peter VI in action

38 39VOICESVOICES

It’s a crisp, cold January morning off the south Devon coast, and the Torbay all-weather lifeboat is powering towards a figure waving in the sea. As the 17m vessel pulls alongside, her crew members grab the grateful man’s lifejacket straps and haul him aboard. Ben Fogle has just had a taste of what it’s like to be rescued by the RNLI.

It’s by no means Ben’s first brush with the charity. In 2005, he was halfway through a 2,500-mile row across the Atlantic with Olympic Medallist James Cracknell when they capsized. ‘Fortunately, before we’d set off we’d both done sea survival training with the RNLI,’ recalls Ben. ‘That training meant we both kept our heads and recovered the situation when a mistake could have proved fatal.’

Ben’s Atlantic mission was just one of his many televised exploits, which began with Castaway, the BBC’s Millennium project that saw him marooned on a

Hebridean island with other volunteers. Since then TV audiences have watched him meet wild animals in Africa, complete a race on foot to the South Pole, and conquer mountains, jungles and deserts as part of the BBC’s Extreme Dreams. While filming that show’s second series in Peru, he caught a rare flesh-eating virus. It took a course of chemotherapy to fully recover from the disease.

Today, though, it’s the chilly English Channel that is Ben’s main concern. He’s filming a man overboard exercise as part of a project that has kept him much closer to home: a documentary about the RNLI for The History Channel. And, although it’s not been as physically demanding as some of his challenges, he’s found himself in deep water a few times – and he’s more passionate about the RNLI than ever. ‘Through this documentary I’ve realised what an extraordinary story the charity

Nautical star

TV presenter, writer and adventurer Ben Fogle immersed himself in the RNLI’s past and present during his latest on-screen project …

has, from its foundation in 1824 right up to now,’ says Ben. The documentary’s shooting schedule has also involved inshore lifeboat capsize training in the Lifeboat College survival pool, going to sea in an historic rowing lifeboat and visiting the RNLI Memorial that remembers 778 people lost while saving others at sea.

‘Growing up, I supported the RNLI more and more as I began to understand the sea,’ says Ben, who canoed and sailed from childhood and volunteered for the Royal Naval Reserve while studying at the University of Portsmouth. ‘Whatever kind of sea user you are, the sea is master. You can’t predict what it’s going to do – and that’s why the lifeboat crews are crucial. That’s why I’ve tried to support them as much as possible.’ That support has included running the London Marathon and taking part in an Isle of Wight sea kayaking race, both in aid of the RNLI. ‘Raising funds and awareness for my favourite charities is a privilege of my job – and part of my social responsibility,’ Ben adds.

It’s remarkable that Ben has fitted so much into the past 10 years – in addition to

his extreme challenges and varied TV work, he has written a string of press columns and published four books. Three of those have focused on the sea, including Offshore: In Search of an Island of my Own. It followed Ben on a journey to the British Isles’ most unusual and remote islands. The trip included an attempt to ‘invade’ Rockall, a tiny islet in the North Atlantic with disputed ownership, and he visited the Principality of Sealand, a Second World War fort off the coast of Suffolk that has been declared a sovereign state by its owners. He was obviously popular there – he returned recently to accept a title.

‘What struck me,’ says the new Lord of Sealand, ‘is that, even though coastal communities are so different from one another, the RNLI is always important to them. And this documentary has helped me realise what sacrifices the volunteers have made and still make. Being a lifeboat crew member like the Torbay volunteers is a lifestyle, not a hobby. It’s a whole other world that runs in tandem with your work and family life. And I’m actually quite envious of that – the camaraderie, and

the opportunity, through the training and equipment, to save someone’s life.’

So, what’s next for Ben? ‘I honestly don’t know what I’ll be doing next month,’ he says, holding up his hands. ‘That’s part of my job. It’s difficult to plan and there’s no routine. But I find that exciting. I would love to do more about the sea and the people associated with it. I’m never happier in my career than when I’m working on the sea – the ocean is my oxygen.’ Perhaps it’s appropriate, then, that Ben woke up on the morning after his 35th birthday and discovered he’d acquired a permanent symbol that will always point him towards the waves. ‘I got a little bit drunk and ended up getting a tattoo of what I thought was a compass,’ he smiles. ‘But it turned out to be a nautical star. I rather like it. It brings me closer to the seafaring community!’

Lifeboat Heroes, a History of the RNLI is due to be broadcast on The History Channel (Sky 529/Virgin 234) on 26 April.

Words: Rory StampPhotos: RNLI/Nigel Millard

41VOICES

It took some straight talking from her ailing father to make Chantal realise she had to do something about her health. She had been in the same sedentary job for years and, after having two children, her weight soared.

Her dad, Bob Woollett (pictured above left, with Chantal age 3), was an RNLI supporter through and through. ‘Dad was in the Merchant Navy, but he couldn’t swim a stroke! He was full of admiration for people who would risk their lives for others.’ Bob shared his passion for the RNLI with his family, with holidays to the seaside and visits to lifeboat shops and stations.

The family were all shocked when he fell seriously ill. But in 2003, when Chantal had reached size 30, it was Bob who took her aside: ‘He told me that I needed to sort my life out and think of my kids. He was my inspiration.’ His loving and frank words gave Chantal the impetus she needed to transform herself.

From the heartIn 2003 Chantal Carr weighed 20 stone. Just 4 years later she’d lost half her body weight, and went on to attempt to swim the Channel in aid of the RNLI

From the start, exercise played a big part in her weight-loss programme and Chantal found she enjoyed pushing herself: ‘I just got stuck in!’ In 4 years she lost a remarkable 10 stone, and is now a size 12 – and fit. Chantal enthuses: ‘Weight loss changed my life!’ She decided to take part in the Great South Run and planned to surprise her dad by raising money for the lifeboats.

After a 10-year illness Bob sadly died on Father’s Day 2007, before Chantal’s run. She completed the 10 miles in his memory (pictured above right, with son Tommy), raising £700 for the RNLI. What had been her father’s passion had become hers too. Raising funds for the lifeboat volunteers gave her the motivation to do the Edinburgh Marathon – twice!

But Chantal didn’t stop there. When she announced over Christmas lunch in 2008 that she was going to swim the Channel, her family were sceptical: ‘It was like “OK Mum,

pass the gravy.”’ After her first swim in 13°C open water, Chantal wasn’t sure it was for her either. She lasted just 10 minutes and hated every second.

Remembering Bob, she persevered and started intensive training: ‘It was like learning to swim all over again. It’s far more mental than physical – I focused on what Dad would have thought.’

Finally attempting to cross the Channel in September 2010, Chantal was forced to stop after a gruelling 9 hours. She recalls: ‘It was a gutting feeling.’ On reflection, Chantal realises what she has achieved and is simply enjoying having her weekends back.

She plans another attempt in 2012 and is already thinking of what her next challenge will be in aid of the RNLI. For now, Chantal is helping to save lives as a volunteer RNLI Education Presenter. She’s sure of one thing: ‘I know my dad would have been proud.’

Chantal's fundraising efforts go towards an RNLI Forever by the Sea fund in memory of her dad. If you would like to find out how to set up an RNLI tribute fund in memory of a loved one, go to rnli.org.uk/inmemory or contact Gemma Spencer on 01202 663504.

Words: Bethany HopePhotos: Carr family album

PAGE TITLE 43

Join us for a truly inspiring, emotive and joyous occasion. Come and celebrate the outstanding dedication and skill of our voluntary crew and supporters. Our annual award ceremony applauds the endeavours of all who help save lives at sea and make the RNLI an exceptional charity – and tickets are free.

The ceremony includes a guest speaker, a host of supporter awards and our Review of the Year 2010 film.

The Annual General Meeting allows you to learn more about the RNLI’s year in detail. It also gives our governors the opportunity to take an active role in the organisation’s decision-making. (Call 0845 121 4999 to find out more about becoming a governor.)

RSVPYou are welcome at either or both events but places are limited so please complete the form overleaf to apply for tickets and return it to us by 29 April 2011. Tickets are free and will be dispatched to you in upon receipt of your request.

We look forward to seeing you on 19 May.

The Annual Presentation of Awards at 2.30pm and the Annual General Meeting at 11.30amat the Barbican Hall, London19 May 2011

YOU ARE INVITED TO …

Apply now

The ‘shout’ came at 3.20pm one Friday. In minutes, we were aboard RNLB Realistic and I was quickly settled in the Helmsman’s seat, the Coxswain by my side. In front of me was a comforting array of dials and screens – radar, GPS, compass, chart plotter and more.

Heading out between the harbour walls, we had a panoramic view and before long we had spotted the casualty – a tanker on fire. A helicopter was already on scene but a weather warning over the loudspeaker announced an imminent change for the worse. In minutes, a rising swell was making Realistic plunge up and down. Then came a heavy squall, rapidly turning to snow. What a day to be out at sea!

Waves crashed over the bow, blotting out our view momentarily. But then I noticed a cross-Channel ferry heading towards the tanker, presumably ready to assist. Rounding the stern of the tanker, we reached the lee side – she was listing badly – but then I discovered with dismay that our throttle was jammed fully open. I had to steer away sharply, only to find I was heading straight for the ferry. Further avoiding action was required and I was disconcerted to see a passenger liner and another ship steaming towards us!

My hands and brain were fully occupied by the swell, the snow and our speed, and I had no time to register what the third vessel was. With much slewing from side to side we managed to keep clear of this mêlée of craft and then – disaster – a submarine surfaced, just metres away. No amount of wrenching the helm could steer us clear and we braced ourselves for an immediate collision … Amazingly no one was injured, not even thrown off their feet.

The Realistic (or so I decided to call her) is the simulator at the Lifeboat College in Poole. All of the controls and displays behave exactly as they would in real life. This bridge can simulate any condition that an all-weather lifeboat crew might meet – as well as the truly unlikely!

I had been treated to this experience as part of a family weekend staying at the RNLI’s college for my 80th birthday and we had a splendid few days.

John Battison, RNLI MemberTotnes, Devon

I always enjoy reading the Lifeboat. Unhappily, Anno Domini, changing climate and four operations have made it necessary for us to stop sailing and to sell the boat, owned for 35 years.

I find it rather harrowing now to read Offshore and Compass magazines so please arrange for these to be discontinued – and of course we no longer require your rescue services. It has been a comfort to know they were there in case of need. We have always managed to extricate ourselves from any problems encountered but the time might have come when we couldn’t.

From April, I am increasing my subscription.

Yours sincerelyLucie le Cheminant, Bembridge, Isle of Wight

To add your shout, write to the Editor at thelifeboat@rnli.org.uk or RNLI Headquarters, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ. Letters may be edited for length or clarity.

Get ticketsI/We wish to attend the Annual Presentation of Awards

on Thursday 19 May 2011 at 2.30pm

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