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27 December 2018
Lifeboat launched to
‘drifting kayaks’
The volunteer crew of Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat answered their 40th emergency call of the year today
(Dec 27) following reports of what appeared to be two drifting kayaks a
mile and a half to the east of the town’s harbour.
The ‘kayaks’ turned out to be large
black fenders drifting out to sea south of the Black Ven cliff.
The fenders were recovered by the
lifeboat crew and taken ashore at Lyme Regis harbour.
The lifeboat was launched at 11.30am
and the crew returned to harbour half an hour later.
26 December 2018
Charmouth Christmas
Day swim brings out the crowds
A gloomy Christmas Day morning did
nothing to deter spectators and swimmers for the annual display of crazy
and colourful costumes and generous donations to the RNLI for the annual
fancy dress swim at Charmouth.
An estimated 300 people watched as
dozens of swimmers – Santas, skeletons, elves and vicars among them –
charged into the chilly waves as Lyme Regis town crier Alan Vian
announced the start of the popular event.
At least £1,500 was raised for the
RNLI charity, and the event was supported by the landlords of Charmouth’s
Royal Oak pub, Matthew and Sue Bracey, who supplied warming mulled wine
for the courageous swimmers.
December 26 2018
RNLI wellie dog
family has a puppy for Christmas
One of the most popular features on
the Cobb in Lyme Regis, the dog created from worn - out lifeboat wellies,
had a happy event in time for Christmas.
With the help, in his garden shed, of
long-serving RNLI lifeboat crew member Garry Gibbs, the one wellie dog
outside the lifeboat shop has become a family of three.
Dozens of Boxing Day visitors to the
town took photographs of the dogs, and the next development will be
finding a family name.
“That may have to wait until lifeboat
week next year, “ said RNLI shop manager Krys Lavery, “but we still have
to make a decision on this important issue.”
Wellie dog family creator Garry Gibbs
said: “Lots of people asked me if the one dog would have a family because
he looked lonely outside the shop. So I found some more worn-out wellies
and the mummy dog and the puppy are the result.”
9 December 2018
Lifeboat volunteers
honoured for long service
Sixty people- members of the crew,
their families and friends – welcomed Christmas yesterday (Sat) at the
annual presentation party of the volunteers of Lyme Regis RNLI.
Four crew members, who have
volunteered for a total of 90 years, received awards. They are Andrew
Rice (30 years), and Lance Taylor, Tim Edwards and Brian Street, all 20
years.
The award for the crew member of year
– voted by the crew – went to senior helm Tim Edwards.
Somewhat less serious presentations
were the Bent Propeller Trophy ‘won’ by Mark Colley and the Man Overboard
award to John Rickard.
A special award – a photograph of the
event – went to three members of the crew who were rescued by their own
colleagues in August, An onlooker ashore thought kite surfers Elliott
Herbert, Murray Saunders and Rich Tilley were in difficulties when the
wind dropped a mile off Charmouth.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick
Marks told partygoers at the Harbour Inn that 2018 had a been a successful
year with almost 40 ‘shouts’ , around twice the total for the previous
year. More trainees had joined and the crew never once missed a launch
because of a shortage of volunteers.
He added: ”We have a very good team
and we can take pride in having done our job pretty well.”
19 November
2018
Christmas Day swim to draw the crowds
Weather
permitting, one of the most popular festive events – the Christmas Day
swim at Charmouth – is set to draw hundreds of spectators, and those brave
enough to take a dip.
Fancy dress is
not compulsory but vicars, dinosaurs, and crusaders are expected to turn
up as usual from 11am on the big morning.
The event is
planned by the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild and regularly raises
in the region of £2,000 for the life-saving charity.
Charmouth’s
Royal Oak pub is again supporting the swim and will be providing mulled
wine for the courageous participants.
A spokesman for
the organisers said: “If the weather co-operates
we are hoping
for the usual big turn out of those who just want to enjoy the spectacle
and, of course, those brave enough to dip more than a toe in the chilly
surf.”
Members of the
volunteer crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat will be keeping a watchful
eye out during the event which will be subject to a risk assessment of
conditions during the morning.
14 November 2018
Exhausted windsurfer
rescued by Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew
A windsurfer in difficulties was rescued on
Saturday 10th November by the volunteer crew of Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat
The alarm was raised by a woman who was
watching the windsurfer from Lyme Regis beach. When she could not see the
windsurfer for about 10 minutes, she called coastguards.
Lyme Regis lifeboat launched at 1pm and was
quickly on scene to assist the exhausted windsurfer. He was taken aboard
the lifeboat and returned to the safety of the lifeboat station by 2pm.
This was the 38th emergency call
answered by the lifeboat crew so far this year.
2 November 2018
Lone sailor rescued
after bitterly cold night at sea
A lone sailor who spent hours at sea
in an open boat in bitterly cold conditions was rescued today (Fri) by the
volunteer crew of Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat.
The man had been reported in
difficulties in a 15ft yacht eleven miles east of the town by Lyme Regis
fire chief Virgil Turner who was on a fishing trip.
The man was found to be suffering
from the effects of the cold conditions and was taken to Lyme Regis
harbour by the lifeboat crew where he was met by an ambulance. He was
later taken to hospital.
After getting the man safely ashore,
the lifeboat crew returned to the scene and towed the yacht to Lyme Regis
harbour.
The lifeboat launched at 8.35am and
returned to the boathouse, after two journeys to sea, three and a half
hours later.
This was the 37th
emergency call answered by the lifeboat crew so far this year.
26 October 2018
Man rescued by Lyme
Regis RNLI crew as sailing boat capsizes
A local sailor, Frank Connor, was
rescued on Friday 26th October by the volunteer crew of Lyme
Regis RNLI when his sailing boat capsized off Burton Bradstock.
The lifeboat was launched at 11.25am
when Solent coastguards alerted the Lyme Regis crew to a report of a man
sitting on the hull of his capsized boat.
The report to the coastguard came
from a dog walker on the beach. Mr. Connor said “We can all get caught
out but thankfully the crew were fantastic, a real good attitude and great
manner”
The lifeboat crew took Mr. Connor to
meet coastguards in West Bay harbour. Then they returned to right the
sailing boat and tow the broken-down vessel to the safety of West Bay
harbour and returned to Lyme Regis at 1.30pm.
24 October 2018
Lifeboat launched
to ‘lost’ walkers
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched
last night (Tues) to assist coastguards attempting to trace two people
reported to be ‘lost’ on cliffs west of the town.
The pair – a man and a boy – were
spotted from the sea by the volunteer lifeboat crew, and coastguards
ashore were then able to meet them at Pinhay Bay.
The lifeboat
launched at 5.16pm and returned to Lyme Regis harbour an hour later
22 October 2018
Man and two dogs in
speedboat rescued by Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew
The skipper of a 16ft speedboat and
his two dogs were rescued by the volunteer crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat this afternoon (Mon) when his vessel broke down two miles off
Axmouth.
The lifeboat was launched at 2.26pm
and the crew towed the speedboat to the safety of Lyme Regis harbour. This
was the 34th emergency call answered by the Lyme Regis
volunteers so far this year.
21 October 2018
Coastguards and
lifeboat crew aid elderly woman injured after fall on rocks
Coastguards and the volunteer crew of
Lyme Regis lifeboat went to the aid of a 71 year old woman who fell on
rocks during fossil hunting today (Sunday).
The woman, a regular visitor to Lyme
Regis from her home in Jersey, was with members of her family, including
two grandchildren, when she fell and badly injured her right leg on
Monmouth beach west of the town.
Coastguards ashore decided it was not
safe to carry the woman across stones and boulders and requested the
lifeboat to stand off. The lifeboat was launched at 3.03pmand returned to
the boathouse at 4.25pm. A coastguard helicopter took the woman to
hospital in Dorchester.
Two lifeboat crew members went ashore
to assist coastguards.
The woman’s son said: “We are very
grateful for the help my mother received from the coastguards and the
lifeboat crew.”
The family did not wish to be named.
19 October 2018
Man rescued by
Lyme Regis RNLI crew as fishing boat breaks down
Bridport builder Stephen Harwood was
rescued this evening (Fri) by the volunteer crew of Lyme Regis RNLI when
his fishing boat broke down off Burton Bradstock.
The lifeboat was launched at 5.10pm
when Solent coastguards alerted the Lyme Regis crew to Mr. Harwood’s 16ft
fishing vessel, named Seamouse. which had suffered engine failure.
The lifeboat crew towed the broken
down vessel to the safety of West Bay harbour and returned to Lyme Regis
at 6.30pm.
18 October 2018
Fish suppers raise a
tasty sum for RNLI
Three fish suppers held by volunteers
in Lyme Regis raised well over £1000 for the RNLI.
The town’s sailing club was packed
with diners and, with generous help from the Fisherman’s Wife takeaway, a
total of £742 was raised. The event, attended by some 60 people, was
organised by Trish Wiliams and Di Mattock.
At the lifeboat station Petrina
Muscroft prepared a lifeboat-themed menu that included Shannon class
salmon, Tamara tuna broccoli and chick peas and B class baked potatoes.
More than 30 people were served in two hours and £377 .50 was raised.
A third event at the Nag’s Head pub,
where owners James and Rebecca De-Voisey were generously supported by Matt
from Herbies Dino Bar, raised £200. Some 33 tickets were sold for fish and
chips, scallops and chips and double cheeseburger and chips.
Nick Marks, volunteer Lifeboat
Operations Manager for the RNLI in Lyme Regis, said: ”I would like to
thank everyone involved in any way with these delicious fund-raising
events. Many local people and businesses contributed with great
generosity.”
13th
October 2018
Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat launches in Storm Callum
Lyme Regis lifeboat launched in rough
sea conditions on Friday (12 October) to a report of a person
in the water near Chesil beach.
The lifeboat volunteer crew responded
to a call from the Coastguard following a report of a person in
difficulties.
The crew were contacted by the
Coastguard at 3.35pm. Half an hour later the crew were stood down when a
local coastguard response team reported it was not a person in the water.
The alarm had been raised by a
member of the public and was recorded as a false alarm with good intent.
10th October
2018
Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat crew called to ‘children in trouble’
Lyme Regis lifeboat launched this
afternoon (Thursday 10 October) to a report of a boat drifting
with three children aboard.
Lyme Regis lifeboat volunteer
crew responded to a call from the Coastguard to a report of a boat with
three children being blown off shore near West Bay.
The crew were contacted by the
Coastguard at 3.49pm to assist a reported drifting boat. Twenty minutes
later the crew had arrived on scene to find the children had made it
safely to shore and all were safe and well.
The call came from a member of the
public who thought the children were struggling against the wind.
If you see someone in trouble at the
coast, call 999 and ask for the coastguard
10th October 2018
Lyme Regis RNLI station – Mayoral visit
Lyme Regis lifeboat hosted Dorset Mayors at the station as part of the
Lyme Regis Town Councils Civic Day.
Lyme Regis Town Mayor Michaela Ellis welcomed about 40 Mayors, Chairman,
Deputy Mayors and other dignitaries from across the county as part
of Civic Day. The notable representatives were taken on a tour of the
lifeboat station, the lifeboat and tractor and received a presentation on
the importance of training and equipment required for the volunteer crew.
Nick Marks, Lifeboat Operations Manager said, “We were very happy to
welcome the representatives from Dorset councils which has enable us to
highlight contribution of our volunteers in saving lives at sea, RNLI
fundraising and promoting the wider RNLI initiatives for community
safety”.
10 October 2018
Tributes are paid to
Irene Roper, ‘a passionate volunteer’
Tributes have been paid to Irene
Roper, former chairman of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild, who
died during this year’s Lifeboat Week.
Irene was a member of the guild for
nine years and chairman for four.
She was passionate about Lifeboat
Week, in particular, and it is estimated that during her spell as chairman
no less than £156,000 was raised for the RNLI charity.
Irene moved to Lyme Regis from North
London eleven years ago. Her partner, David, died three years ago.
Irene had three sons, Matthew, Stuart
and Daniel and seven grandchildren.
In April this year it was announced
that Irene was to receive the RNLI’s Excellence in Volunteering Award. It
will now be accepted by her sister, Maggie and son Daniel at a ceremony in
London in November.
Irene was also a supporter of the
Royal British Legion.
As her sister, Maggie put it: ”Irene
loved volunteering for the RNLI and also worked in the shop. But she
absolutely put her heart and soul into Lifeboat Week.”
7 October 2018
Bowls club boosts
lifeboat week total
Lifeboat week
proceeds for the RNLI charity in Lyme Regis were boosted by £200 today
(Sun) when the town’s bowls club presented a cheque during a crew training
session.
Club captain
Alan Nabarro handed the cheque to the chairman of the Lyme Regis and
Charmouth RNLI Guild, Ken Lavery. The donation was raised during a
lifeboat week bowling drive.
2 October
2018
Golden wedding couple
donate their ‘presents’ to RNLI
Donations to the RNLI come in all
shapes and sizes and for all sorts of reasons. And every one is greatly
appreciated by the charity that saves lives at sea.
The volunteers of the Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat crew received a cheque recently from Mrs Ann Rawlins living in
Borough Green, Kent.
She wrote:’ I had the dubious
pleasure of reaching my 70th birthday recently, and, even more
extraordinary, celebrating a golden wedding anniversary!
‘We asked for donations, in lieu of
presents, for the RNLI, a much worthier cause than us ! Most of our
friends have donated online, thus increasing the donation with gift aid.
‘I am sending the cheque to you as I
met my husband, Bryan, when I was eight and he was 11. We were both
members of the sailing club in Lyme Regis and he proposed to me at the end
of the Cobb !’
Mr. and Mrs. Rawlins were married at
Uplyme church and her parents retired to Lyme Regis. Her father, best
known as ‘Spud’ Taylor, was commodore of the sailing club.
30 September
2018
Fish suppers on the menu for lifesavers at
sea
Two evenings of
fish suppers are being held in Lyme Regis in a tasty fundraising event in
aid of the RNLI.
The first is on
Friday October 12 from 6pm at the town’s sailing club. Fish and chips are
on the menu at £10 per person with £5 of the cost going to the lifeboat
charity.
Next evening,
October 13,th there’s a varied menu at the lifeboat station
prepared by Petrina Muscroft.
Dining is
between 4pm and 8pm with a menu of fish chowder and bread, salmon and new
potatoes, tuna chickpea and broccoli salad and vegetarian pasta.
Petrina said
:”People will need to bring their own drinks and bookings in advance would
be a great help.”
A minimum
donation of £6 per person would be appreciated for the meal.
To book call
07967145035 or go to noake@talk21.com.
26 September 2018
Porsche Marathon
A couple who are driving their
Porsche 911 to every one of the RNLI’s 238 lifeboat stations made Lyme
Regis their 208th destination today (Weds).
Retired builder James Richardson and
his interior designer wife Belinda started their marathon trip in London
in August and are due to complete the clockwise journey around the whole
of the British Isles and Ireland when they reach the Tower lifeboat
station on the River Thames at the end of this month.
They are aiming to raise more than
£56,000 for the RNLI charity which is £238 per lifeboat station.
James and Belinda met members of the
volunteer Lyme Regis crew when they arrived in their brand new Porsche,
James said:” We decided to do our
RNLI-911 Challenge in retirement because over the years we have been
incredibly impressed by the RNLI’s dedication and selfless actions.It has
been an incredible journey and we have met some amazing people.”
James and Belinda received a letter
from the private secretary to the Duke of Kent, Nicholas Marden, in which
he said ‘In his fifty years as President of the RNLI the Duke of Kent has
sought to visit every lifeboat station, but there are still a handful he
has yet to get to. It looks as though you will beat him to it.’
Details of the Richardsons trip can
be found at
www.rnli-911challenge.co.uk.
18 September 2018
Lifeboat crew rescue
man as dinghy capsizes
One man was rescued by the volunteer
RNLI crew of Lyme Regis lifeboat when his vessel capsized on Sunday.
The lifeboat was launched at 4.30pm
after a concerned onlooker alerted coastguards when he saw the dinghy
capsize just outside the harbour.
Two members of the lifeboat crew
entered the water to assist the man and right the dinghy.
7 September 2018
Lifeboat launched to
‘swimmer in trouble’
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched
this morning (Mon) following reports of a swimmer in difficulty at West
Bay.
The lifeboat crew had just left Lyme
Regis harbour when coastguards stood them down after it became clear the
swimmer was not in danger and the call was a false alarm with good intent.
15
September 2018
Lifeboat crew assist in search for missing man
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched today to assist coastguards ashore
in the search for a man reported missing in the Spittles cliff area to the
east of the town.
The man was spotted by the lifeboat crew and they assisted coastguards to
successfully reach the man.
The lifeboat launched at 12noon and returned to the boathouse one hour
later.
15
September
2018
Lyme Regis
‘Exhausted’ yachtsmen rescued by Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew
Two men reported to be exhausted aboard a yacht in storm force wind
conditions were rescued by the volunteer RNLI crew of Lyme Regis lifeboat
last night. (Friday).
The men, who were sailing from Salcombe to Portsmouth, were in
difficulties five miles south west of West Bay.
A lifeboat crew member boarded the 24ft yacht and assisted the men to sail
into West Bay harbour.
The lifeboat crew launched at 9.41pm and returned to Lyme Regis at
12.35a.m.
14
September 2018
Council boss joins Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew
A former
RAF officer who is now Operations Manager with Lyme Regis Town Council has
joined the crew of the town’s RNLI lifeboat as a Deputy Launching
Authority.
As a Flight
Lieutenant, Matt Adamson – Drage,46,was an Aerospace Battle Manager with
the RAF until retiring last year after 20 years service.
Matt, whose
RAF role involved co-ordinating battle situations with other services,
including the Royal Marines, said: “I am keen to learn about all aspects
of sailing and hope to have my own boat, so it seemed a natural move to
volunteer with the RNLI.”
Matt is
married to Zishan, deputy town clerk of Axminster, and they have two
children, Theo, 4, and Jacob, 7. Matt’s
position with Lyme Regis Town Council was previously held by another
member of the lifeboat crew, Elliot Herbert.
10 September
2018
Lifeboat Week sets an
all-time record with £34,000
Lifeboat Week in Lyme Regis this year
has set an all-time record with a final total raised for the lifesaving
charity of £34,765.
Members of the organising group, the
Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild, along with lifeboat crew members,
heard the news from treasurer Brian Cursley at their meeting last week.
He said: ”It’s a terrific result, and
is £5,693 up on donations last year.”
Guild secretary Maggie Sullivan said
new events this year had proved very popular and despite poor weather at
the beginning – with just one or two events being re-scheduled – it had
been an exceptionally successful week.
The meeting heard that the Army’s
parachute display team, the Red Devils, had been extremely popular and
general feedback from the public had been ’terrific.’
The top ten achievers in relation to
donations and participation were the water or wine stall, the programme,
fireworks display, breakfast baps, the duck race, Red Devils, the book
stall, yard of ale, name the yellow welly dog and the swimming challenge.
Guild chairman Ken Lavery said: “
The hard work and dedication of all our volunteers has produced a
remarkable result this year and the RNLI – the charity that saves lives
at sea - will be proud of their efforts.
“The generosity of all those visitors
and residents who donated to our charity must also be praised.
“But there was also sadness, and we
pay tribute to Irene Roper, former chairman of the Guild, who died during
this year’s Lifeboat Week.
“She worked tirelessly for our
charity for several years and was passionate, in particular, about
Lifeboat Week. We are delighted that Irene’s sister, Maggie, is
continuing as secretary of the guild because, as Maggie says, that is what
Irene would have wished.”
An error occurred in our programme for this year. Lifeboat Week
next year will run from July 27th to August 2nd 2019
28
August 2018
RNLI Lyme Regis
lifeboat launched to missing swimmer near Burton Bradstock
Lyme Regis
lifeboat launched on Saturday afternoon (25 August) to a report of a
missing swimmer near Burton Bradstock.
The lifeboat
crew were requested to assist coastguards searching for the swimmer .
The volunteer crew launched at 12.35pm and began a searching along the
coast from West Bay to Burton Bradstock. The report from coastguards was
that a man and woman had set off from Freshwater and were swimming to
Burton Bradstock. However the woman did not arrive. She was found safe and
well by coastguards carrying out a shoreline search.
The lifeboat
returned to station and was ready for further service by 2.00pm.
15 August 2018
Lifeboat launched to
broken down yacht
The volunteer crew of Lyme Regis’
RNLI lifeboat to-night answered their 22nd call for help so far
this year from two men aboard a 21 foot yacht with engine failure.
The crews’ pagers sounded the alarm
at 7.25pm, and the lifeboat was quickly alongside the yacht a short
distance east of the harbour.
The lifeboat crew towed the yacht to
the safety of the pontoons just outside the harbour.
10 August 2018
RNLI Lyme Regis lifeboat
launched to man cut off by the tide
Lyme Regis lifeboat launched this afternoon to a man cut off by the tide.
The lifeboat crew were requested to assist the coastguard to rescue a man
reported to have been cut off by the tide near Golden Cap.
The volunteer crew launched at 2.45pm and were on scene 10 minutes later
to begin a shoreline search. The crew searched from Golden Cap to
Thorncombe Beacon. The crew discovered the casualty near St Gabriel’s
Steps and one of the crew, Tim Edwards, swam ashore to assist. He walked
the casualty to Charmouth where they met the Lyme Regis coastguard rescue
team
Murray Saunders, helm of the lifeboat, said: ‘ The crew performed
exceptionally and were able to assist the coastguard with recovering the
casualty to safety’
The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for further service by
4.30pm. This was the 21st emergency call answered by the Lyme
Regis lifeboat crew so far this year.
7 August
2018
RNLI Lyme Regis
lifeboat assists broken fishing boat 4 miles south of Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis
lifeboat launched yesterday (Monday 6 August) to a report of a broken down
small fishing vessel.
Lyme Regis lifeboat volunteer
crew were tasked to assist the Coastguard with a stranded fishing vessel
with two people aboard. The boat was reported to be 4 miles south of Lyme
Regis.
The volunteer
crew were quick to launch after being contacted by the Coastguard at
6.20pm to assist a fishing boat that had suffered power failure. The
inshore lifeboat headed south from Lyme Regis to the position of the
stricken vessel. The crew set up a tow and were soon back in Lyme Regis
harbour where the casualty boat was recovered. The lifeboat was back in
the station by 7.30pm.
Jon Broome, helm of the crew said: 'It was a quick and efficient recovery
of the fishing boat and the crew worked well as a team to ensure the
safety of the casualty.’
4 August
2018
Lifeboat Week ‘a resounding success’
A soggy start with rain and high winds turned into a sunny finale for
Lifeboat Week in Lyme Regis.
And as the week came to an end yesterday (Friday) the organisers – the
Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild – reported an early estimated total
for donations in the region of £26,000.
The weather caused the postponement of the bathtub race and the swimming
challenge but both were held later and cancellations were few.
Chairman of the RNLI Guild Ken Lavery, said: ’The week was a resounding
success and a tribute to all the volunteers who gave up their time in the
planning process and during the week itself.
‘Once again we have had tremendous support from the public and we have
received many positive comments.’
Among the many successes, drawing huge support were the Army’s Red Devils
parachute display team, the popular wine or water raffle, the ‘name the
welly dog’ competition and the tug ‘o war across the harbour mouth which
was started by Lord Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey who was
aboard the harbourmaster’s launch with his wife Lady Emma.
A Madagascan tortoise stole the show at a packed Uplyme Village Hall
presentation of snakes and exotic reptiles.
Six hundred hot dogs were sold by the lifeboat crew at their barbecue on
the harbour slipway. And a local firefighter scored the first ever hole in
one at the golf challenge on the harbour’s North Wall.
As the week came to a close with a spectacular fireworks display, one of
the last events – the swimming challenge from Cobb Gate to the harbour –
attracted a record entry of 100…..65 adults and 35 juniors.
29 July
2018
Fun runners defy wind and rain in Lifeboat Week
Fifty hardy competitors took part in the fun run on day two of Lyme Regis’
lifeboat week and defied the wind and rain that caused the postponement of
other events.
Competitors ran a 2.3k course along the seafront.
It was a family success for Alexander Thiele, 55, and his son Thomas,8,
holidaymakers from Newcastle. Alexander won the adult section of the race
and Thomas was the first under nine year old. First over nine was Jack
Braddock, a holidaymaker from near Peterborough.
28 July
2018
Lifeboat Week first days hit by rain and
high winds
Rain and high winds on the opening
weekend of Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week caused the postponement of at least
two major events.
Today (Saturday) the swimming
challenges for adults and children were postponed because of high winds
and choppy seas. They will now be held at 7pm and 7.30pm on Friday.
The bathtub race on Sunday was also
postponed because of poor weather in the forecast and will now be held at
6pm on Thursday.
The welcome display by Lyme Regis
RNLI lifeboat was held today but without the Shannon class lifeboat from
Exmouth. Her volunteer crew were called out this morning to assist a 25
foot yacht which had been dismasted. They towed it to safety in West Bay
Harbour.
On the way back to Exmouth the
lifeboat crew staged a demonstration of the vessels versatility for
hundreds on Lyme Regis beach.
Ken Lavery, chairman of the Lifeboat
Week organisers said: ”We were sorry to postpone some events, but, of
course our paramount concern is the safety of everyone taking part. And
the forecast for the rest of the week was good so postponement seemed the
best plan.’
INFO: Swim Challenge and Bath Tub Race
postponed
With BIG apologies but due to the inclement weather we have had to
postpone today's swimming challenge. The Swimming Challenge will now take
place this coming Friday, 3rd August. Registration between 4pm and 6.30pm
at the RNLI kiosk on Marine Parade, the adult swimming challenge starts at
7pm, and the children's swimming challenge at 7.30pm.
In addition, the Great Bath Tub Race scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday 29th
July will now move to this coming Thursday, 2nd August at 6pm, with
registration at 5pm at Cobb Gate.
Fingers crossed for better weather for us going forward and thanks for
your understanding.
25 July 2018
Lifeboat launched to
two incidents
Volunteers at the RNLI lifeboat
station in Lyme Regis dealt with two incidents today (Weds).
The lifeboat was launched at 2.36pm
after reports that two people were possibly in difficulties on an
inflatable and in a kayak 400metres off Freshwater east of Lyme Regis.
The lifeboat crew established that a
man and a woman who were both still at sea were safe and not in trouble.
As the lifeboat crew were returning
to Lyme Regis harbour they were asked to assist a couple aboard a 42 foot
yacht. A mooring chain had wrapped around the rudder. The crew released
the chain and then towed the yacht to a safe mooring.
The Lyme Regis RNLI volunteers have
now answered 17 calls for help so far this year.
23 July
2018
Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat false alarm
Lyme Regis lifeboat launched
yesterday evening (Sunday 22 July) to a report of an overturned boat.
Lyme Regis lifeboat volunteer
crew responded to a call from the Coastguard to a report of an overturned
boat 300m off shore from Monmouth Beach.
The volunteer crew were contacted by
the Coastguard at 8.30pm to assist a reported capsized boat, 10 minutes
later the crew had arrived on scene to find the boat was the correct way
up and the owner of the boat was fine!
The call came from a member of the
public who thought that the boat has capsized.
If you see someone in trouble at the
coast, call 999 and ask for the coastguard
23 July 2018
Holiday cottage
weekend is new lifeboat week prize
A weekend stay in a holiday cottage
in Lyme Regis is a new star prize donated for the town’s lifeboat week
which starts on Saturday.
The cottage sleeps six, and tickets
at £5 to win the prize will be available at the lifeboat week kiosk on
Marine Parade or at the wine or water stall outside the RNLI shop on the
Cobb.
The weekend can be between October
and May and the prizewinner will arrange dates with the owner.
Chairman of the lifeboat week
organisers, Ken Lavery, said:’ The RNLI Guild is grateful for this very
generous offer. It is a very special prize.’
The draw for the prize will take
place on August 3rd.
23 July
2018
RNLI to stage
lifejacket ‘clinic’ in lifeboat week
A lifejacket ‘clinic’ aimed at
ensuring that the safety aid is in perfect condition to save lives is to
be held by the RNLI during Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week.
The clinic is being organised by Mike
McAlpine, volunteer Community Lifesaving Officer with the RNLI in Lyme
Regis. It will be based at a lifesaving gazebo on the slipway by the
entrance to the RNLI boathouse on Tuesday July 31st.
Mike McAlpine said:’ The tragedy in
Missouri recently where eleven people drowned reminds us of the importance
of lifejackets.
‘Unfortunately, many people do not
check the condition of their lifejackets from one season to another, and
in many cases the inflation device fitted may not work when it is needed.
‘The message is is to have your
lifejacket examined by a qualified professional every year and conduct
your own checks on a regular basis.’
Among the tips for lifejacket users
is to inflate the aid manually with a hand pump every six months and to
leave it inflated for 24 hours to ensure there are no leaks or damage.
Lifejacket owners are urged to visit
the slipway gazebo on July 31st where RNLI experts will
demonstrate how to ensure a lifejacket is in a serviceable condition to
save a life.
11 July 2018
Father and son all at
sea with the lifeboat
A 35 year old
paramedic last night qualified as the latest volunteer to become a member
of the sea-going crew of Lyme Regis lifeboat.
And on the same
day his 17 year old son joined the crew and went to sea in the RNLI
lifeboat for the first time.
Mark Ellis, from
Uplyme, has been a crew member for two years and has now passed the final
part of his sea-going training.
His son Sam was
17 last month, the youngest age at which a new member can join. Sam, a 6th
form student at Axe Valley Academy, said after his first training session
afloat:’ I just loved it !’
Dad Mark, a
paramedic with South West Ambulance, added: ‘ I am delighted and relieved
to have got through training and very pleased for Sam who has been nagging
me to join the crew at the first opportunity when he became 17. And that
was only last month!
10th
July 2018
Colyton Vintage
Tractor run presentation
The volunteer crew of Lyme Regis
lifeboat were involved with the Colyton Vintage Tractor run earlier this
year. Nearly 120 vintage tractors made their way from Colyton to Uplyme
via Whitford, Musbury, Combpyne, Cannington viaduct and Lyme Regis
The
Colyton Tractor run is an annual event and this year the monies raised was
split between the RNLI
and The League of Friends Axminster Hospital.
Crew from Lyme Regis were in Uplyme
to welcome the participants and drivers on a very hot May bank holiday.
Pictured Colyton Vintage Tractor run
committee Arthur Parsons, organiser of the Tractor run presenting a
donation of £1750 to Seb Cope from Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat station and
Kevin Salter presenting a donation of £1750 to Dr Barry McKenna from the
League of Friends.
3 July 2018
Downton
Abbey creator to visit Lyme Regis RNLI Lifeboat Week
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes
is to make a guest appearance during the Royal National Lifeboat
Institution Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week. Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, who
lives in Dorset and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset in 2009,
will be visiting the town on the fourth day of Lifeboat Week, Tuesday July
31st.
Lord Fellowes visit to Lifeboat Week
will include meeting the volunteer crew at the lifeboat station and
fundraisers running many of the events on the day.
Lord Fellowes said: ‘I know the
volunteers put a great deal of effort into raising funds for the RNLI
charity and I am looking forward to my visit.’
Lifeboat Week, which is organised by
the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild and the lifeboat crew, raises an
average of £30,000 each year.
30 June
2018
Couple rescued by Lyme Regis lifeboat crew
after speedboat is swamped by waves
Plans
for a barbecue and a night camping on the beach went disastrously wrong
last night for a young couple.
A man
and his girlfriend in their 30s, from Colyton, were trying to beach their
14ft speedboat when it was swamped by waves and holed on rocks at Charton
Bay, west of Lyme Regis.
They
were rescued by the volunteer crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat after
the man raised the alarm with his mobile phone. The lifeboat crew were
paged to launch at about 1030pm
The
speedboat’s skipper, who did not want to be named, said:’ We both tried
for about two hours to get the water out of the boat, but in the end it
was a write-off and I had to call for the lifeboat.
“We had
set up the barbecue, but I am afraid we never got anything to eat. We were
very relieved to see the lifeboat crew who did a great job.’
The
couple were taken to safety from the beach by the lifeboat crew who also
pumped out the speedboat and towed it into Lyme Regis harbour at 1145pm
29 June
2018
Tom follows dad at the helm of Lyme Regis lifeboat
A 26
year old electrician yesterday (Thurs) achieved his ambition to follow in
his father’s footsteps to become a volunteer helm commanding the Lyme
Regis RNLI lifeboat.
Father
of two Tom Crabbe, from Uplyme, passed the final test to become a helm
during a day of theory and ninety minutes at sea under the close scrutiny
of an RNLI assessor/trainer.
Tom was
examined by Carl Beardmore, a coxswain with the RNLI at Falmouth. At the
end of the day’s tests he said: ’Tom satisfied me that he is very safe,
knowledgeable, and will make an excellent helm for the Lyme Regis lifeboat
station.’
Tom, a
crew member for six years, is now the seventh helm at the Lyme Regis
station, one of the most important and responsible roles.
As helm
he commands the lifeboat and is responsible for the welfare and safety of
other crew members and the vessel itself.
Said
Tom:’ I am absolutely delighted to have made the grade as a helm, and
proud to follow my dad.’ Tom’s father Rob, retired from the lifeboat crew
after 20 years’ service and was also a helm.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks said:’I congratulate Tom. His
operational pass-out as a helm is testament to his dedication as one of
our much-valued volunteers.’
25 June 2018
Lyme Regis RNLI
crew assist coastguards at powerboat incident
The volunteer crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat were
yesterday(Sun) called to assist following reports of a powerboat incident
at West Bay.
The incident occurred during an offshore circuit powerboat
racing event.
The lifeboat crew were alerted at 2.30pm and arrived 15
minutes later at West Bay harbour to assist coastguards, the Devon and
Cornwall Air Ambulance and the police.
18 June 2018
RNLI thanks
supporters as lifeguard tower arrives
The RNLI has
thanked supporters who backed its request to install a new, modernised
look-out tower on Lyme Regis beach this summer.
The tower
arrived this week ready for the lifeguards who will be operating from July
7 until September.
Nigel Jones, the
RNLI’s Area Lifesaving Manager for Torbay to Weymouth, said: ’The RNLI
would like to express its sincerest gratitude for all the local support
for the establishment of a new lifeguard tower in Lyme Regis.
‘The new,
temporary tower replaces the old unit which was at the end of its
operational life and provides significant improvements for the delivery of
the lifeguard service in Lyme Regis, including vastly improved
visibility. The lifeguards can now see over a very crowded beach to the
water and beyond to the harbour wall which is a popular location for
youngsters jumping into the sea.
‘It is also a
more conspicuous facility which provides an extremely useful first aid and
information service and a focal point for lost children, plus better more
modern welfare facilities for the lifeguards.
‘Now that it is
installed we are pleased how smart and professional it looks and our
lifeguards are extremely excited about conducting their duties from it.’
The tower will
be removed at the end of the season in September.
10 June
2018
Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat rescues eight divers
Lyme Regis lifeboat launched
yesterday morning to a report of a broken down 6 metre dive boat.
Lyme Regis lifeboat volunteer
crew were tasked to assist the Coastguard with a stranded diving vessel
with eight people aboard.
The volunteer crew were contacted by
the Coastguard at 11.45am to assist a dive boat that had suffered power
failure. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat headed south from Lyme Regis for
approximately 3 miles to the position of the stricken vessel. The crew set
up a tow and returned the boat with the divers to the safety of Lyme Regis
harbour.
Peter Glanvill, Chairman from The
Lyme Bay Sub Aqua Club said “We enjoyed a fantastic dive photographing the
marine life on the wreck ‘Heroine’ with club members and some divers
visiting from Leicester but it was a tad embarrassing when the engine
would not start! We are extremely grateful to the RNLI for arriving so
promptly and towing us back to Lyme.”
Lifeboat helm Tom Wallis said: 'The
crew were very proficient which enabled a quick recovery for the divers
and their boat”
7 June 2018
Mystery of the yellow
welly dog’s missing eyes
Someone, it seems, has taken a shine
to the eyes of the yellow welly dog that has become a major attraction
outside the RNLI lifeboat shop in Lyme Regis.
Shop manager Krys Lavery discovered
both eyes were missing and called in the dog’s creator lifeboat crew
member Garry Gibbs.
Garry performed complicated ‘surgery’
and the dog is now back on duty…on loan to the RNLI stand at the Royal
Cornwall Show where he is advising dog owners how to keep safe during
cliff top walkies.
Garry said: ’The eyes were not
valuable, just glass beads from one of my wife’s old necklaces.’
With the help of Krys Lavery, Garry
chose a pair of silver ‘spangly’ beads from another necklace and restored
the dog’s appearance.
Now Garry needs just two more pairs
of worn – out RNLI wellies to start work on a friend for his original
creation.
The yellow welly dog will be the
subject of a naming competition during Lifeboat Week in Lyme Regis,
starting on July 28.
3 June 2018
Lifeboat in search
for ‘missing man’
Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat was launched this evening (June 3) to assist police and
coastguards in a search for an elderly man reported missing.
The volunteer
lifeboat crew launched at 6.20pm and carried out a widespread shoreline
search stretching from Golden Cap in the east to Monmouth beach in the
west.
Coastguards
stood down the lifeboat crew after almost two hours when nothing had been
found.
This was the 12th
emergency call answered by the volunteer Lyme Regis RNLI crew so far this
year.
8 May 2018
Lifeboat in search for ‘missing man’
Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat crew were alerted last night (May 8) following reports of a man
missing in the West Bay area.
The lifeboat
was launched at 8-15pm, but after carrying out a shoreline search for
ninety minutes nothing was found and coastguards stood the crew down.
8 May 2018
Lyme Regis RNLI Lifeboat launched in search
for missing person
Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat was launched at 2.15am this morning (8th May) to
assist in the search for a person reported missing in the Golden Cap/West
Bay area.
The volunteer
lifeboat crew conducted a shoreline search from West Bay to Golden Cap.
The lifeboat crew were working together with the local coastguard and
police teams. No evidence of the original missing person was found, and
coastguards stood the lifeboat crew down at 3.30am
Remember if you
see or hear someone in distress in the water, call 999 and ask for the
coastguard.
7 May 2018
The annual
blessing of the boats service on the Cobb in
Lyme Regis yesterday was just one of many events to benefit from the
glorious Bank Holiday weather.
An estimated
200 people joined in the open air service led by the vicar of Lyme Regis,
the Rev. Jane Skinner, and hosted by the RNLI at the lifeboat station.
The volunteer
lifeboat crew, the British Legion, coastguards, the sailing, powerboat
and gig clubs were all represented.
Lyme Regis Town
Band and the Harbour Voices choir took part in the service and Sophie
Vernon, whose parents are members of the gig club, read her poem called
Salt.
The service
concluded with wreaths being taken to be laid at sea by the lifeboat crew.
1 May 2018
Lyme Regis RNLI start the
Yellow Welly Mayday Relay
Lyme Regis RNLI volunteers had the honour of starting the 31 day Mayday
Yellow Welly Relay today.
At 4pm the welly set off by car from
the harbour with Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks, his wife, Anne
,and Deputy Launching Authority Ian Marshall and his wife Anne-Marie, on
the first leg of the relay to meet members of the West Bay branch of the
RNLI. Next the welly was driven to Weymouth lifeboat station to be handed
over to volunteers there for the second leg.
RNLI
volunteers around the South and South East coast are planning their route
for the iconic Yellow Welly, which will end its journey on 31st May on the
Thames in Teddington raising money and awareness for the charity that
saves lives at sea.
The RNLI’s Mayday event began
today (Tuesday 1 May) and will run for the whole month, with fundraising
taking place across the whole of the UK and Ireland. This year, the RNLI
hopes to raise £750,000 through Mayday, which will be used to
fund essential kit for the charity’s brave
volunteer lifeboat crews.
Nick Marks, volunteer lifeboat
operations manager at Lyme Regis, said: ‘RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews
around the UK and Ireland are willing to drop everything to go and save
lives at sea when they get the call. Their specialist kit protects them
against extreme conditions, gives them a firm footing on unsteady
surfaces, and shields them from injury, allowing them to carry out their
lifesaving work. The Mayday campaign is our own call for help, as we rely
on the generosity of the public to fund this vital kit that helps keep the
crews safe when they risk their lives for others.’
Money raised through Mayday
fundraising events will help RNLI
lifeboat crews to face the harshest conditions at sea with the best kit
possible. It currently costs £1,598 to
provide one all-weather lifeboat crew member with all of the kit they need
when responding to the call for help.
This year,
the RNLI is going yellow for Mayday – just like volunteer crews do every
day to save lives at sea. Anyone who wishes to get involved can visit
RNLI.org/mayday to register for a free Mayday fundraising pack.
The pack provides a host of
fundraising ideas, such as encouraging friends and colleagues to get
sponsored to run, walk or cycle, cooking up some yellow-themed bakes to
sell or even getting together to lift the weight of a 42 tonne Severn
class lifeboat!
The charity is also encouraging
people to show support on their social media, joining the conversation
using the hashtag #MaydayEveryDay, or by donating online or buying a
yellow crew member pin badge.
The RNLI is the charity that saves
lives at sea. Its 4,700 volunteer lifeboat crew members provide a 24-hour
search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of
Ireland coasts.
In 2017, RNLI lifeboat crews across
the UK and Ireland launched 8,436 times, assisting 8,072 people.
29 April 2018
Penny farthing pair cycle for charity
Penny farthing
enthusiasts and football fans Seb Cope and his father Alistair cycled from
Derby County’s ground to Aston Villa at the weekend for a charity close to
their hearts.
Seb, 35, a
member of the RNLI lifeboat crew in Lyme Regis, and Alistair, 59, from
Seaton, raised more than £200 for the Aston Villa Foundation community
charity during their 50-mile cycle ride.
Seb, whose
great, great grandfather was born just yards from Villa Park, said:”We
cycled on roads, paths and canal towpaths and had a greet reception from
people along the way, and especially football fans.”
On the way to
Aston Villa the pair stopped at the National Arboretum where Seb paid his
respects at the RNLI memorial.
At the end of
their journey they watched Aston Villa draw 1-1 with Derby County.
Seb and
Alistair regularly organise vintage cycle events, and the next one, Velo
Vintage, is at Seaton on June 30. For details go to
www.velovintage.co.uk
29 April 2018
Chairman Mark to lead lifeboat management
team
A former
treasurer and shore crew member with the RNLI in Lyme Regis has returned
as chairman of the Lifeboat Management Group.
Mark Houghton,
57, has just begun a four year stint to co-ordinate the activities of the
lifeboat operational team, the fund-raising guild and the RNLI’s beach
lifeguards.
Mark, who lives
near Bridport and takes over from John Dover, who performed the role for
18 months, said:” Another important part of my activities will be as a
point of contact for other local organisations or individuals regarding
all aspects of the RNLI in the area.
“This could
involve discussing co-operation with other local services, local
authorities, or individuals who want to volunteer with the RNLI or simply
have concerns to raise.”
25 April 2018
Blessing of the boats service – all welcome
The annual
blessing of the boats service will be held this year on May 6 at the RNLI
lifeboat station on the Cobb in Lyme Regis.
Starting at 3pm
the inter denominational service will be led by the Vicar of St. Michael’s
Church, the Rev. Jane Skinner.
The town band
and the Harbour Voices shanty singers will feature in the open air service
to which all are welcome.
Members of the
volunteer lifeboat crew, the coastguards, the gig club, sailing club and
powerboat club will all be represented.
The service
will conclude with wreaths, including one from the Royal British Legion,
being taken out to sea by the lifeboat crew.
12 April
2018
Volunteers hit the jackpot for RNLI’s life-saving charity
Volunteers in
Lyme Regis and Charmouth raised nearly £64,000 for the RNLI during the
past year.
The figure was
announced last night (Weds) at the annual meeting of the Lyme Regis and
Charmouth RNLI Guild – the local fund raising branch of the charity – by
treasurer Brian Cursley,who said it had been ‘an excellent year.’
Another
financial success was the lifeboat shop on the Cobb. Volunteer manager,
Krys Lavery said her second year in charge had ended in a turnover of
£126,000 and the shop was seventh in the league table of RNLI outlets.
Lifeboat
Operations Manager Nick Marks reported on 22 ‘shouts’ during last year and
said the crew had already answered eight calls for help in 2018.
He said a major
refurbishment of the boathouse was now almost complete, and the lifeboat
has returned to the station after a month in an industrial tent while the
work was carried out.
Guest speaker
Elliott Herbert, a member of the crew and also Senior Assessor Trainer
(lifeboats) England for the RNLI outlined the importance of training for
the volunteer crews.
Mr Herbert
leads a team of 11 responsible for training at 114 lifeboat stations.
The meeting
ended with praise for the outgoing chairman of the guild, Irene Roper, who
received the RNLI’s award for excellence in volunteering.
Irene was said
to have led the guild in raising some £166,000 during her nine years, five
of them as chairman.
New chairman
Ken Lavery praised her ‘hard work, commitment and sheer doggedness’ as
Irene sliced a celebration ‘thank you’ cake.
25 March 2018
RNLI Lyme Regis lifeboat assists broken
fishing boat 30 miles south-west of Portland
Lyme Regis lifeboat launched this morning (Sunday 25 March) during a
training session to a report of a 6 metre broken fishing vessel.
Lyme Regis lifeboat volunteer crew were tasked to assist the Coastguard
with a stranded fishing vessel with two people aboard. The boat was
reported to be 30 miles south-west from Portland.
The volunteer crew were on a routine training session when contacted by
the Coastguard at 9.50am to assist a fishing boat that had suffered power
failure. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat headed south from Lyme Regis for
approximately 18 miles to the position of the stricken vessel. The crew
set up a tow and 2 hours later were back by West Bay where the helm of the
lifeboat Jon Broome had to carefully negotiate manoeuvring around the
dredging machine currently in the harbour.
Dave from North Devon, one of the rescued men said: ‘We were so relieved
to see the lifeboat heading towards us and we are very grateful for our
safe recovery.’
Jon Broome, helm of the crew said: 'It was a great opportunity to put the
training into action and the crew worked well as a team to recover the
boat and men safely.’
8 March
2018
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat moves into a tent
The
RNLI’s inshore lifeboat based in Lyme Regis moved into her new temporary
‘home’ last night (Weds)…a huge industrial tent on a car park.
The
boat, Spirit of Loch Fyne, the tractor used for launching and
other equipment will be housed in the tent, east of the bowling green, for
a month while work to repair the floor of the boathouse on the Cobb is
carried out.
Volunteer crew members were briefed on arrangements, including safety
measures for the move, and also carried out a dry run for launching which
will mean the tractor with the boat on its carriage being transported a
short distance along a public road to the harbour.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks said: ’The crew had a detailed
briefing on how to manage the next month, including closing the short
stretch of road when the boat is being moved for launching.
‘We
apologise in advance for any inconvenience to pedestrians and motorists
and we will keep any restrictions to a minimum.
‘One of
our main considerations is the safety of everyone when we need to use
public areas.’
27 February 2018
RNLI Lyme Regis lifeboat launched to couple
cut off by the tide
Lyme Regis lifeboat launched this afternoon to two people cut off by the
tide.
Lyme Regis lifeboat was requested to launch to assist the Coastguard with
two people that were reported to have been cut off by the tide near Black
Venn, between Lyme Regis and Charmouth.
The volunteers launched the lifeboat at 4.45pm and were on scene in 10
minutes later and assisted the Coastguard to ensure the safety of the
people.
Murray Saunders, helm of the crew said: 'We were glad to assist the
Coastguard with this rescue and thankfully the people made it to safety.
If in doubt, leaflets are available from the Tourist Information Centre
and RNLI lifeboat shop explaining the risks of the changing tides.
February 2018
RNLI Lyme
Regis lifeboat moves ‘home’ for station repairs
The RNLI’s Lyme Regis-based lifeboat is moving ‘home’ for a month during
March.
The
8.5m Spirit of Loch Fyne will be housed in an industrial tent on a
car park from March 7 while the lifeboat station’s boathouse floor is
re-laid.
The
move also includes the tractor used to launch the inshore lifeboat as well
as other boathouse equipment.
During
exercises, or launches to an emergency at sea, a short stretch of road
from the car park east of the bowling green to Cobb Square will be closed
for a few minutes.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks explained:’ The closure of the
boathouse is necessary because parts of the floor are breaking up after
years of wear.’
The
lifeboat will be launched from the harbour’s public slipway while the
RNLI’s facility is used by contractors carrying out the repair work.
Mr
Marks added:’ Crew members will carry out safety measures while the boat
is moved on the public road to the harbour.
‘The
operation includes Easter weekend, and we apologise in advance for any
inconvenience caused when we need to launch the lifeboat.’
24 February
2018
ADDITIONAL
The Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched twice again this
afternoon, Sat 24th February, to search the West Bay area. Nothing was
found. In total the crew were at sea for about four hours this afternoon
24 February 2018
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat launched twice in
night
After
returning to the lifeboat station at 11.45pm last night (Friday 23rd), the
volunteer crew launched again at 02.15 this morning to continue the search
for the reported missing man.
Senior
helm Tim Edwards, in the operations room at the lifeboat station, said:
‘After a report from the police helicopter we were asked to carry out a
search about 300metres off the West Bay piers, but found nothing.
‘Our
four crew members then waited in the West Bay coastguard station for the
arrival of the coastguard helicopter. We then resumed the search at about
5am, but it was called off around an hour later.’
24 February 2018
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat launched in search
for ‘missing man’
Lyme
Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched last night (Fri 23rd) to assist following
reports of a man missing in the West Bay area.
Solent
coastguards requested the lifeboat crew to carry out a shoreline search in
the West Bay, Eype, Freshwater and Seatown areas.
The
lifeboat was launched at 9.26pm. Nothing was found and the volunteer
lifeboat crew were stood down after searching in bitterly cold conditions
for two hours. The lifeboat crew returned to Lyme Regis harbour at 11.45pm
8
February 2018
Lifeboat Week 2018 is coming!
Members of the committee of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild have
already drawn up a provisional programme for the week which this year runs
from July 28th to August 3rd.
And
already confirmed for a return visit are the Red Devils, the British
Army’s official parachute display team. They will be ‘dropping in’ during
the afternoon of August 2nd.
The
Guild – the local fundraising branch of the RNLI charity – is holding its
annual meeting on April 11th at 7.30pm at Lyme Regis lifeboat
station. Guest speaker is long-serving lifeboat crew member Elliott
Herbert who is also a full time Senior Assessor Trainer with the RNLI. New
members of the Guild are welcome to attend the meeting.
RNLI Flag Day
this year is on June 2nd when volunteer collectors will be on
duty in Lyme Regis and Charmouth
31
January 2018
Georgia joins the volunteers of Lyme Regis
RNLI
A 23
year old general manager has become only the fourth woman ever to join the
volunteer crew of the RNLI lifeboat in Lyme Regis.
Lyme-born Georgia Robson has enrolled as shore crew and is now attending
regular training sessions at the lifeboat station on the Cobb.
Georgia, a former Woodroffe School pupil, aims eventually to become a
sea-going crew member. She enjoys regular trips with her ex-Royal Marine
father Jim, in his four metre RiB (rigid inflatable boat).
Georgia
applied to join after meeting members of the crew at last year’s
Remembrance Day parade.
“I have
always enjoyed the sea, and after talking to crew members it just seemed
natural to apply to join them. I am thoroughly enjoying the camaraderie
during training sessions.”
Georgia
is general manager with Tukxi Ltd, an Axminster firm which imports and
converts Tuk Tuk auto rickshaws.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks, said: ‘Georgia follows Grace and
Shona and now joins Nikky and we are delighted to welcome her aboard.’
How Garry turned old wellies into a fun fund
raiser
What to do with the Lyme Regis lifeboat crews' worn out yellow wellies was
the puzzle for long serving RNLI volunteer Garry Gibbs. Landscape gardener
Garry took the redundant footwear home to his workshop.
And 8 hours and 7 boots later the result was a dog-shaped model which will
become a star attraction during lifeboat week this summer.
Garry, a member of the lifeboat crew for 22 years, said " A dog seemed the
obvious answer to the recycling issue with the old wellies. I hope to make
another animal when more old wellies become available.”
Now,
organisers of Lyme Regis lifeboat week - starting on July 28 - are
planning to run a competition to name this very rare breed and to raise
funds for the RNLI charity.
13 January 2018
Lifeboat launched to ‘two cut off by tide’
Lyme
Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched today following a report that two people
were thought to be cut off by the tide between Lyme Regis and Charmouth.
The
alarm was raised by National Coastwatch volunteer Howard Lyne on duty at
the Charmouth look-out station.
The
lifeboat was at sea within seven minutes of the coastguard request to
launch at 2.40pm.
After a
comprehensive shoreline search by the lifeboat crew nothing was found and
coastguards called off the operation.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks said ;’It seems the two people made
their own way to safety but this shout demonstrated how well the
Coastwatch volunteers, the coastguards and ourselves can work together.
And it is always better to be safe than sorry.’
2
January 2018
Lifeboat launched to ‘three cut off by
tide’
Lyme
Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched yesterday (New Year’s Day) when
coastguards were alerted that possibly up to three people had been cut off
by the tide on the beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth.
The volunteer crews’ pagers
sounded the alarm at 4.20pm and the lifeboat crew were quickly on the
scene east of the harbour. It was soon established that one man was
involved and was able to leave the beach, making his own way to safety.
He was then met by coastguards ashore and the lifeboat crew were stood
down.
2017
10 December 2017
Lifeboat crew
tributes at Christmas party
An award for 30 years’ voluntary
service, tongue-in-cheek tributes and a Christmas dinner all contributed
to the success of the Lyme Regis lifeboat crew’s annual presentation party
last night (Saturday).
Some 50 people – RNLI crew members,
their friends and family – attended the event at the Harbour Inn.
Among the awards were the White Star
Line award to helm Mark Colley, the Watch Your Language award to John Bird
and the Bent Propeller trophy to Brian Street.
Consultant surgeon Ken Lavery, who is
a Deputy Launching Authority, received a photograph of himself on the
ground – not needing hospital treatment ! –after failing to clear a fence
during a crew visit to an Exeter Chiefs rugby match.
Most popular award of the night,
receiving a standing ovation, was to postman Andrew Rice who has just
completed 30 years as a volunteer member of the lifeboat crew
1 December 2017
School visits to
lifeboat station are a hit with youngsters
The RNLI’s lifeboat station in Lyme Regis is
becoming a regular favourite for organised visits, particularly by school
parties from a wide area.
The latest visitors (yesterday, Thurs) were
44 nine to ten year olds from Wheatley primary school in Oxford.
The youngsters visited the station during
their stay at Hooke Court, the residential field study centre near
Beaminster.
They heard a talk by volunteer Deputy
Launching Authority Ian Marshall who told them about the way the RNLI
works and discussed beach and water safety. He also gave them a guided
tour of the lifeboat station and the lifeboat itself.
Mr Marshall said: ”We are always pleased to
welcome school parties. It is a great opportunity to stress safety issues
for the youngsters when they are enjoying themselves in or near the sea.
It also gives them the chance to ask me some tricky questions !”
A party visit can be organised by leaving a
message for Mr. Marshall on the lifeboat station telephone number 01297
442230.
27 November 2017
Photo Club puts
lifeboat in the picture with £250
Former members of the Lyme Bay Photographic
Club performed one of their last acts together at the weekend with a
cheque presentation to the RNLI.
The club recently closed and at their last
meeting they decided to split their remaining funds equally between the
Dorset Air Ambulance and the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild.
A cheque for £250 was presented to RNLI Lyme
Regis Deputy Launching Authority Ken Lavery at the town’s lifeboat station
yesterday (Sunday).
18 November 2017
Charmouth
Christmas Day swim plans get the go-ahead
Plans for the traditional
Christmas Day swim at Charmouth have been approved by the parish council,
and once again swimmers and dippers in weird and wonderful costumes are
expected to brave the waves.
Last year an estimated
2,000 people watched as some 250 swimmers took a dip in costumes ranging
from penguins to dinosaurs…and, of course, Santa.
Nearly £2000 was raised
for the RNLI at last year’s event which again this year starts promptly at
11a.m.
The swim is being
sponsored by the new landlords of Charmouth’s Royal Oak pub, Sue and Matt
Bracey, and they will be serving mulled wine to warm up the swimmers and
dippers.
Chairman of the
organisers, Irene Roper, of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild,
said: ”Fancy dress is not compulsory but it certainly adds to the fun. We
are hoping for another bumper turn out by swimmers and spectators alike.”
As usual volunteer
members of the RNLI Lyme Regis lifeboat crew will be on hand to keep an
eye on the swimmers.
5 November 2017
Gig club in safety exercise with RNLI crew
The
first of a series of exercises involving Lyme Regis’ successful gig club
and the town’s RNLI lifeboat crew was held today (Sunday).
Gig
club coach Chris Waller, who is leading a safety management team for the
rowers, said:”Our aim is to manage a better culture of safety for gig
clubs.
“We
have a comprehensive plan and we will be making safety recommendations,
based on our exercises with the RNLI, to the Cornish Pilot Gig
Association.”
Today’s
exercise with a gig crew of seven and their 32 foot vessel, Prospero,
involved the lifeboat going alongside the gig and a session to practise
towing.
Future
exercises are expected to involve scenarios including capsize, man
overboard, swamping, and casualty recovery.
The
Lyme Regis Gig Club now has 180 members.
27 October 2017
Lifeboat assists with search after ‘wreck
debris’ report
The volunteer crew of Lyme Regis lifeboat yesterday (Thurs) assisted with
a shoreline search along Chesil beach following reports of debris that
could have come from a wreck. Weymouth all-weather lifeboat and a
coastguard helicopter were also involved.
Lyme Regis lifeboat launched at 3.30pm to assist Weymouth lifeboat and a
coastguard team from Wyke Regis. There had been sightings of a number of
floating boxes and other debris off Chesil beach and Ferrybridge.
During the search, a number of fishing boxes and other debris were
retrieved from the sea. The coastguard called off the search at 5pm.
16 October 2017
Volunteers in joint
exercise to save lives at sea
An exercise at sea to improve still further
radio communication skills between the volunteers of the National
Coastwatch Institution and the crew of the RNLI’s inshore lifeboat in Lyme
Regis was staged yesterday (Sunday).
Scenarios involving a kayaker in difficulties
and ‘man overboard’ were used to enable the Lyme Bay Coastwatch teams at
look-out stations at Charmouth and Burton Bradstock to practise directing
the lifeboat crew towards an incident.
David Last, deputy station manager of Lyme Bay
Coastwatch at Burton Bradstock, said: "The exercise achieved its aims for
us and we were very pleased with the result, and in particular our
involvement with the scenario to rescue a capsized kayaker."
RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks
said: ”This was a very useful exercise in developing the working
relationship between the lifeboat crew and our local NCI look-outs. Close co-operation between both teams is
essential in promoting our overall goal of saving lives at sea.”
15 October 2017
Tasty result as fish suppers raise £450 for RNLI
Two fish suppers in Lyme Regis over the weekend raised a
total of £454 for the RNLI’s life-saving charity.
One was held at the town’s sailing club where at least 54
fish and chip meals were served on Friday evening, and the other, on
Saturday, invited diners to a chalet above the bowling green where hostess
Petrina Muscroft served fish curry and rice, salmon salad or vegetarian
pasta.
Diners made a donation for their meals and Petrina,
Herbies, Baboo Gelato and the sailing club presented their profits to the crew at
the lifeboat station today (Sunday).
15th October
2017
Lifeboat answers two calls for help
The volunteer crew of Lyme Regis lifeboat
answered two calls for help yesterday (Saturday), both of which were false
alarms with “around good intent”. Coastguards were alerted after a man and
his dog reported to be cut off by the tide at Black Ven, East of the
harbour.
On arrival the lifeboat crew found a man
who did not need assistance. While still at sea, a report of a 'sail' in
the water off Burton Bradstock turned out to be a floating sack.
A lifeboat spokesman said “While both
these calls turned out to be false alarms, we always consider it be best
safe rather than sorry”.
The Lyme
Regis lifeboat crew have now answered 21 calls for help this year.
7 October 2017
Two rescued aboard
broken down cruiser
The crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat were
called to assist today (Sat) when a 30ft cabin cruiser broke down 16 miles
west of Portland Bill.
Weymouth RNLI’s ALB – All Weather Lifeboat –
towed the cruiser, with two people aboard, to Lyme Regis where the town’s
ILB – Inshore Lifeboat crew –took over and towed the vessel the short
distance to the safety of the harbour.
The Lyme Regis crew received the request to
launch from Solent coastguards at 2.48pm and returned to harbour just
after 4pm.
5 October 2017
Wanted – volunteer lifesavers to join
RNLI crew
Volunteers who run the RNLI lifeboat station
in Lyme Regis are appealing for new recruits to bring the crew up to full
strength.
Two Deputy Launching Authorities – DLAs – and
three shore crew members are being sought.
The DLAs are members of the management team
and are the first point of call for coastguards when they make a request
for the lifeboat to be launched.
They then take charge of the operation in the
boathouse during any emergency.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks said:
”The DLAs tend to be senior members of the team operating on a duty rota,
and shore crew should be aged between 18 and 40 with good fitness levels
and living and working in Lyme Regis or close by. Training can take up to
two years for those who want to be sea-going crew members.
“Everyone is a volunteer and training and
other events can account for around 12 hours a month.
“Full training is given to all new recruits,
and there is a genuine team spirit and plenty of social activities in
addition to the serious business of saving lives at sea.”
Anyone interested in joining the crew should
call 01297 442230 and leave a message or come along to the next training
session at the lifeboat station at the harbour from 9a.m. on Sunday
October 15th.
2 October
2017
Petrina
plans a fun fish supper to support the lifeboats
Former chef and lifeboat supporter Petrina
Muscroft is opening her Lyme Regis holiday home to stage a special fish
supper in aid of the RNLI.
On the menu: lifejacket potatoes, crew cut
chips and fresh haliboat.
“No, that’s the joke menu,” said Petrina, “but
there will be fish curry and rice, salmon salad and vegetarian pasta.”
Petrina’s supper is from 4pm to 8pm on
Saturday October 14th and is part of the RNLI’s annual
fundraising event with volunteers hosting meals countrywide. Suppers
will be served on the hour at Perina’s chalet called Ammonite, No 6,
Bowling Green, and is reached by walking through the bowling green after
parking in one of the two Monmouth beach car parks. “I hope it will be a
fun evening, “ said Petrina “and we aim to have a raffle and a quiz as
well.”
A minimum donation of £5 provides a meal and
diners are asked to bring their own drink.
Call Petrina on 07967 145035 to book a table in advance
27th September 2017
Lyme Regis lifeboat rescues 5
teenagers
Lyme Regis
lifeboat launched in early hours to rescue 5 teenagers from stricken
yacht.
Lyme Regis
lifeboat was requested to launch to assist a 35' sailing yacht that had
broken free from its mooring off Lyme harbour at 2.45am this morning
(Wed). The sailing boat had drifted towards the shore and ran aground on
the beach near Lucy's Ledge in Lyme Regis. There were seven people on
board including five teenagers.
The lifeboat
launched and was alongside the casualty vessel 15 minutes after the
Coastguard requested the launch. The five teenagers were rescued off the
casualty boat and taken to the lifeboat station, all were safe and well
with no injuries.
The volunteer
crew of the lifeboat then returned to the casualty vessel and managed to
tow the boat away from the beach back to a mooring.
The boat was a
Tradewind 35 sailing yacht called TS Vigilant, part of the Sea Cadets
fleet. The boat and crew were on route from Plymouth to Poole, stopping at
Lyme Regis for the night. The five Sea Cadets were from the London and
Birmingham areas.
Helm Tim
Edwards said "I was pleased we were able to get the teenagers to safety of
the lifeboat station and then recover the casualty vessel from trouble.
The lifeboat crew performed really well and the all the training we do was
put to good use!"
18th September
2017
Lifeboat crew awards for volunteer service
Members of
the RNLI crew in Lyme Regis and their families and friends got together at
the town’s Powerboat Club (last Saturday) for the traditional end of
season party and for presentations to former volunteers.
Ritchie Durrant
received an award for seven years service as a member of the crew. He is
the nephew of former crew member Dave Street and current helm Brian Street
Ritchie completed part of his Duke of Edinburgh's award with the lifeboat
at the age of 14 before signing up as volunteer crew at 17.. He said: “It
is the best thing I have ever done and I miss it tremendously. You learn
so much from the other members of the crew and there is something about
the respect you gain for the sea”
Local builder
Dave Street received his award for 24 years service, 14 of which were as
helm. During his service with Lyme Regis RNLI the lifeboat rescued 74
people..
Outgoing Lifeboat Management Group Chairman John Dover
received an award for nearly nine years service, first as lifeboat
treasurer, then Deputy Launching Authority and finally chairman of the LMG.
A letter from the RNLI’s Operations Director George Rawlinson, referred to
Mr Dover’s ‘time, commitment and sheer hard work.’
8th September
2017
Lyme Regis lifeboat
launched to motor boat reported to be spinning in circles near Seaton,
Devon.
Lyme Regis RNLI volunteer crew
launched last night (Thurs) just after 7pm to assist following reports of
a boat spinning in circles with two people on board. The Atlantic 85
lifeboat was at sea only minutes after pagers alerted the crew and were on
scene at the entrance to Axmouth harbour about 20 minutes later. The
lifeboat crew entered the harbour to discover that the 30 foot motor
cruiser with three people on board were safe and well. They were preparing
their boat for mooring by getting ready the fenders which caused the
vessel to spin.
Lyme Regis helm Mark Colley said “It
was good to see that the boat and people on board were well equipped and
that everyone was safe and well. The coastguard were alerted by a
concerned bystander and it is better to be safe than sorry.”
7 September 2017
Lifeboat Week raises
£30,000 for life-saving charity
Lifeboat week in Lyme Regis this year raised
£30,000 for the RNLI charity, the organisers have announced.
Treasurer Brian Cursley revealed the figure at
last night’s (Weds) meeting of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild.
It was the first meeting of the organising
committee since the week’s events, and Mr.Cursley said:”The total raised
simply underlines a very successful week.”
The top five donation-earning events were the
water or wine stall, the glossy programme of the week’s events, the lucky
dip, breakfast baps, and the duck race.
Guild chairman Irene Roper said:”It’s an
astonishing result to raise £30,000 this year despite the rain.
“Once again, it demonstrates the generosity of
visitors and residents alike, local traders and, of course, the hard work
of all our volunteers.
“Our local media also played an important role
in publicising the week extensively.
“The money raised is a significant
contribution to the life-saving work of our RNLI volunteers.”
2 Sept 2017
Lifeboat book signing
The author of the new book telling the story
of lifeboats and lifeboat people, who have served Lyme Regis since 1826
will be signing copies this weekend.
Retired journalist Richard Horobin, the RNLI’s
volunteer press officer in Lyme Regis, will sign books at the lifeboat
shop on the Cobb from 10.30am on Sunday Sept 10th.
The book is the latest in a series published
by the RNLI charity and was launched at the start of the recent Lyme Regis
lifeboat week. All proceeds from the sale of the book, priced £8.95 go to
the RNLI.
1 Sept 2017
Lifesaver Andy swaps
the Thames for Lyme Bay
The latest recruit to join the
volunteers who crew Lyme Regis’ lifeboat is swapping the River Thames for
Lyme Bay.
Andy Butterfield, 42,, joined the
RNLI at Teddington on the Thames 13 years ago and has just moved to Uplyme
with his wife Jacqui and children Harry,7,and Alexandra, 11.
“It’s a massive difference operating
on the Thames to going to sea, so there’s plenty of learning to be done,”
said Andy.
“The decision to move was made on a
work/life balance, and we felt we wanted to enjoy the countryside and the
coast as much as possible,”
Andy was a crew member for six years,
and at the helm of the D-class lifeboats on the Thames for a further seven
years.
“The Thames involved much first-aid
work, and assisting the police and other emergency services, and many of
our calls for help were at night.”
Despite his years on the Thames Andy,
who works in I.T. as a customer experience specialist, is a trainee crew
member at the lifeboat station on the Cobb illustrating the huge
differences between the two locations..
“Like many of my volunteer colleagues
I joined the RNLI because I wanted to help those in trouble, but also, of
course, there is a great sense of camaraderie,” said Andy.
29 August 2017
Sea anglers donate
another £1,000 to RNLI
Members of Seaton Sea Anglers Club
have presented the crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat with yet another
£1,000 donation.
Over a number of years it’s estimated
that the club has raised in the region of £12,000 for the life-saving
charity.
The latest donation was presented to
lifeboat crew member Tom Crabbe at the August barbecue held at Axe Yacht
Club.
More than 150 members of the angling
and yacht clubs enjoyed the barbecue. This year’s donation was raised at
last year’s barbecue. And this year’s event raised another £1,070.
The RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations
Manager in Lyme Regis, Nick Marks, said: “The fundraising efforts of the
angling club and their generosity is just amazing. We are very grateful.”
12 August 2017
Helicopter Picture
The pilot of the helicopter that
thrilled crowds with a surprise fly-past during Lifeboat Week in Lyme
Regis was today presented with a souvenir photograph of the event.
Lt. Cdr Tom Burrows,32, received the
framed memento from the chairman of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI
Guild Irene Roper.
Cdr. Burrows , Operations Officer
with 845 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton, flew the Merlin
helicopter with crew members Lt. Ollie Everett and Sgt Mike Lewis.
6 August 2017
Two ‘shouts’ for Lyme
Regis lifeboat crew
Volunteers who crew the RNLI lifeboat
in Lyme Regis answered two calls for help yesterday (Sat).
The first was to a small inflatable
dinghy with one man aboard reported to be drifting out to sea near Eype
holiday park.
The lifeboat crew, who launched at
6.56pm, found the man was safe and in control of the dinghy and were stood
down by coastguards at 7.20p.m.
Just over three hours later the
inshore lifeboat was launched again following reports of a fishing boat
taking in water and sinking seven miles south of West Bay. Weymouth all
weather lifeboat was also on scene along with the coastguard helicopter.
The fishing boat, with two men on board,, was stabilised and towed to
Weymouth harbour
The Lyme Regis lifeboat crew, who had
launched at 10.19pm., were stood down at 11pm and returned to the lifeboat
station at 11.30pm
30
July 2017
Lifeboat Week beats
the weather with hope of £20,000
Lifeboat Week in Lyme Regis came to a soggy
end in heavy showers yesterday (Sat), but organisers are confident of a
significant boost for RNLI funds.
The Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild, whose
members plan the week, believe donations to the life-saving charity will
be in the region of £20,000.
Only two events – the cricket match and the
Friday night fireworks display – had to be called off because of the
weather.
Irene Roper, who is retiring as chairman of
the guild after five years, said: ’Visitors, residents and traders
have been very generous as usual. It has been a great team effort. But
there have also been some superb individual achievements.
‘One classic example is 13 year old Josh
Denning, who raised no less than £473 with his collection bucket and help
from his family.’
The week ended with a performance by the
shanty singers, Harbour Voices of Lyme Regis.
There were two surprises to come as the week
officially concluded.. Irene Roper was treated to a celebration
get-together with other volunteers to mark her retirement as chairman.
And Emma Hughes, from Whitchurch Canonicorum,
joined the celebration to hand over a cheque donation for £420 raised at
her recent 40th birthday party.
She said: ’I wanted to raise money for the
RNLI as an active member of Bridport Gig Club and my dad is a keen
fisherman with a boat at West Bay.
‘I asked all my guests not to bring a birthday
present but to make a donation to the RNLI.’
27 July 2017
Sylvia gets a
lifeboat week surprise
Supporters of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth
RNLI Guild – organisers of the town’s Lifeboat Week –sprang a presentation
surprise on a retiring member today (Thurs).
Sylvia Marler was a member of the guild’s
committee for 18 years and has just retired.
A tea party and presentation was held at the
lifeboat station in Sylvia’s honour. Sylvia received an award for
excellence in volunteering and a letter praising her efforts from Leesa
Harwood, the RNLI’s Director of Community Lifesaving and Fundraising. The
presentation was made by the guild’s chairman Irene Roper.
25 July 2017
Family of four and
dog rescued as yacht sinks
A family of four and their labrador dog were
rescued this evening (Tuesday) by the volunteer crew of Lyme Regis
lifeboat after their yacht was swamped by waves and sank at Charton Bay,
west of Lyme.
The yacht was being sailed from Lyme Regis by
Joe Coles,56,from East Coker, Yeovil. Also on board were his wife Tania,
sons Theo,9, Hector,19, and their 14 month old Labrador Suki.
Mr Coles said: ”We had been having a picnic
and were close to shore. Suki would not get on the boat. We got out of
the boat to get the dog and two big waves hit the yacht and pretty much
sank it.
“We were all safely ashore but wet and cold,
and very pleased when we saw the lifeboat. The whole thing was Suki’s
fault, really.”
The family had left Lyme in the 18 foot
vessel, called Llewellyn, just as the Red Devils were giving their display
as part of Lifeboat Week.
The lifeboat crew brought the family back to
the safety of Lyme Regis. Later it was decided it was too unsafe to tow
the stricken yacht back to Lyme Regis. The lifeboat crew secured the yacht
by anchor a quarter of a mile off Pinhay Bay. This was the 13th
shout for the Lyme Regis crew so far this year.
The lifeboat had launched from the slipway at
6.50p.m.just as the Lifeboat Week charity auction was under way in the
boathouse.
But later the water polo match between the
lifeboat crew and the lifeguards was affected by a shortage of players. A
depleted lifeboat crew team lost by a large margin, according to players.
25 July 2017
Lifeboat week off to
a flying start
Lifeboat Week in Lyme Regis got off to a
flying despite heavy showers on the first two days.
Irene Roper, chairman of the organisers, the
Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild, said: ”The weather, to start with,
was not brilliant, but we have had great support.”
Irene, who is retiring as chairman after five
years, once Lifeboat Week is over, added: ”Visitors and residents, in fact
the whole town, have been incredibly good to us and all indications are
that we will raise a substantial sum for our life-saving charity.”
The fire and rescue demonstration last night
(Monday) was preceded by the presentation of a 20 year long service and
good conduct medal to Lyme Regis fire chief Virgil Turner
The demonstration, watched by a large crowd,
involved a scenario in which an explosion had occurred filling the
lifeboat station with smoke. Firefighters from Lyme Regis and Charmouth
then ‘rescued’ three ‘casualties.’
24th July
85 competitors took part
in the fun run. winner holidaymaker Ross Jones, 37, completed
the the 3k run in7mins 16secs. The lifeboat crew lost the tug of
war across the harbour entrance by two pulls to one. They were beaten by a
combined team from Lyme Regis Sailing Club and the town's football club.
23 July 2017
A soggy start for
lifeboat week
Heavy showers and squally conditions
got Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week off to a soggy start yesterday (Sat).
But the first day’s programme was not
affected and started with the launch of a new book on the history of a
voluntary lifeboat service in the town from 1826 to the present day.
Among the many guests at the launch
were Philip and Lisa Burgess who were rescued after the helicopter Philip
was flying plunged into Lyme Bay in dense fog on Easter Monday 1999. Lisa
was expecting their daughter Charley-Nicole at the time, and she was also
at the book launch.
Dorset-based impressionist and
actress Debra Stephenson officially started Lifeboat Week, holding an
umbrella in the rain on Marine Parade, and the Eastern Promise belly
dancers braved the showers to entertain a large crowd.
The RNLI crew of Lyme Regis lifeboat
staged their traditional welcome display along with the coastguard
helicopter and the day ended in relatively calm weather with the bathtub
race.
Eight bathtub crews took part, and
after winning the event six years running the Dorset firefighters were
forced into second place by a young team representing Lyme Regis Sailing
Club and Lyme Rib Rides. They established a big lead to win in their
‘vessel’ named Cat-Astropphe.
Despite fitting a two stroke engine
to their bathtub –strictly against the rues-the six men aboard the
lifeboat station’s entry almost sank and had to give up.
21 July 2017
Gym boss boosts
lifeboat fund with a dance
A dance at Uplyme Village Hall organised by
the owner of a gym and his wife has resulted in a bumper cheque for the
RNLI in Lyme Regis.
Craig Bernhardt and his wife Sarah staged the
dance to raise donations for the lifeboat charity and the Macmillan Cancer
Trust.
The RNLI received £1,174 and the cancer
charity a similar sum.
Craig, who opened the gym, B! Health and
Fitness, two years ago said: ”It is not until you live or work in a town
on the coast like Lyme Regis that you realise just how important the RNLI
is”
16th July
2017
Four rescued by
Lyme Regis RNLI crew as powerboat 'drifts towards rocks'
Four
people, including an 11 month old boy, were rescued by the volunteer crew
of Lyme Regis lifeboat last night (Saturday) when their 32 foot powerboat
broke down and was reported to be drifting towards rocks
The
powerboat had suffered power failure off Beer Head. The lifeboat was
launched at 6.27pm just 6 minutes after the crew's pagers alerted them to
a mayday call to coastguards from the stricken vessel. The lifeboat crew
reached the powerboat 20 minutes after launching and took it in tow.
On board
were Tom Montgomery-Swan, 29, from Exeter, his wife Aisha, baby Edward,
crew member Nick Dodge from Seaton and the family's pet dog Winston, a
German pointer.
Tom said
"The lifeboat crew arrived incredibly quickly and we were delighted to see
them. We were 400 metres off Beer Head when our power failed and there was
a danger that we might have drifted towards the rocks."
The
life boat towed the powerboat, with its four 'crew' to the safety of Lyme
Regis harbour, arriving at 8pm. None of those aboard the powerboat needed
medical attention.
14
July 2017
Lifeboat shop
volunteers celebrate a new look
Volunteers who run the RNLI’s harbour-side
shop in Lyme Regis today celebrated the completion of a total
refurbishment of the charity’s outlet just in time for Lifeboat Week which
starts on July 22nd.
The shop was chosen for a make-over because
it regularly appears in the top five of all the lifeboat shops throughout
the country.
Irene Roper, chairman of the Lyme Regis and
Charmouth RNLI Guild, cut the ribbon to mark the re-opening of the new
look shop.
Emma Ludford, Retail Development Manager for
the RNLI’s south region, said:”Lyme Regis was chosen as a flagship store
because it is one of the most successful in the country.
“The RNLI’s faith in the shop is a tribute to
the hard work of all the volunteers who run it.”
Volunteer manager of the store Krys Lavery
said:”We are thrilled with the way the shop now looks, and delighted that
the RNLI chose us for this major re-design.”
July 2017
Survivors will be
guests at RNLI Lyme Regis lifeboat book launch
 A couple who were rescued after their
helicopter plunged into Lyme Bay and a woman in her seventies seriously
injured on rocks near Charmouth will return to Lyme Regis for the launch
of a book which includes their remarkable stories.
Also among guests at the launch at
the town’s lifeboat station will be the parents of a severely disabled
young woman who died when her wheelchair fell into the harbour.
The book is part of a history project
by the RNLI charity and tells the story of almost 160 years of a lifeboat
service in Lyme Regis.
Author Richard Horobin, the lifeboat
station’s volunteer press officer, said: “We are delighted that some
people featured in the book will be coming back to meet their rescuers
again, including lifeboat crew, coastguards and fishermen.”
Philip and Lisa Burgess were rescued
after the helicopter Philip was flying crashed in dense fog on Easter
Monday 1999. Lisa was pregnant at the time, although her rescuers did not
know, and her daughter Charley-Nicole will be paying her first visit to
Lyme Regis.
Mariola Constandinou, from the
Midlands, was 71 when she slipped on rocks and was seriously injured near
Charmouth in May two years ago and is looking forward to meeting her
rescuers again. Mark and Paula Perkins, whose daughter Claire died when
her electric wheelchair fell into the harbour will once again be visiting
Lyme Regis to help with Lifeboat Week events and will also be at the book
launch.
Also at the book launch will be John
Bradley, the great great grandson of Thomas Bradley a coxswain of the
pulling and sailing lifeboats for 30 years, who joined the crew in 1851.
Dorset-based actress, impressionist
and comedian Debra Stephenson will be opening Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week at
12.30pm on July 22nd and will also be at the book launch. She
co-starred in the BBC,s The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson
and currently stars in Radio 4’s Dead Ringers.
Richard will be on Marine Parade during the
afternoon to sign copies of the new book.
24
June 2017
Lifeboat launched to
‘youngsters in trouble’
The volunteer
crew of Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat and local coastguards were alerted today
(Sat) after reports that youngsters using an inflatable rubber ring
were in difficulty in the water near the town’s harbour.
The lifeboat was
launched at the request of Solent coastguards who reported that two girls
were in difficulty in the Broad Ledge area east of the harbour. It later
transpired that a boy had also been in difficulties. The three
youngsters, all aged 15, made their own way ashore. The boy needed some
attention for the effects of cold water. Otherwise all three were said to
be safe and well. The lifeboat crew’s pagers sounded at 3.10pm and the
lifeboat returned to harbour at 3.45pm
19 June 2017
Two rescued in broken
down boat
Two men aboard a broken down boat
were rescued on Saturday evening (June 17th) by the volunteer
crew of Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat.
The boat suffered engine failure two
miles south of West Bexington. The lifeboat towed the 6metre vessel and
its crew to the safety of West Bay harbour.
The lifeboat launched at 8.45pm and
returned to Lyme Regis harbour at 10pm.
Lifeboat
volunteers – their dramatic life and times in a new book
The life and
times of Lyme Regis lifeboat men and women – and the lifeboats themselves
– are captured in a new book from the RNLI and due to be launched on 22
July, the first day of this year’s Lifeboat Week.
Written by the lifeboat station’s
volunteer press officer, retired newspaper and BBC journalist Richard
Horobin, the fully illustrated book is part of the charity’s history
book project.
It tells how a makeshift lifeboat
service started in the town in 1826, and how a Christmas tragedy led to
Lyme Regis getting a ‘proper’ lifeboat, powered by sails and oars, 27
years later.
With much help from local historians
and lifeboat supporters, the author has brought to life a fascinating
collection of stories about dedicated volunteers who ran a lifeboat
service in the town, despite all the odds, over a period of nearly 160
years. How they would row the lifeboat for hours to reach a stricken
vessel….no twin 115hp engines such as power today’s lifeboat.
There is the crew member who was
shipwrecked eight times as a mariner; the coxswain who served the lifeboat
for 34 years and was famed for his strength, picking up a man with one arm
and placing him on a table. He also salvaged a huge barrel of alcohol from
a shipwreck and carried it single handed up a cliff !
The story of an MP who vanished
without trace over Lyme Bay after being trapped in a hot air balloon makes
incredible reading. The dramatic episode when a ship was torpedoed by a
German submarine a short distance from Lyme Regis harbour, and yet had an
amusing twist amid the tragedy and chaos.
And in more recent times the amazing
survival of a couple whose helicopter crashed into Lyme Bay in dense fog;
the tragic tale of the severely disabled woman whose wheelchair fell into
Lyme Regis harbour and the desperate attempts made to save her.
There are the lighter moments, too,
such as the crew Christmas dinner when the annual awards are
presented…including the Bent Propeller trophy !
The story of Lifeboat Week, from the
early 70s, includes the ditching of a Navy helicopter in the sea, which
wasn’t part of the event, although the hundreds who witnessed it thought
it was.
The new book will be available from
the lifeboat shop on the Cobb and other outlets in the town, from 22 July
price £8.95 with all proceeds going to the RNLI, the charity that saves
lives at sea.
25 May 2017
Dive Boat Towed
Lyme Regis
RNLI lifeboat was launched this evening to assist a broken down dive boat
with 13 people aboard two miles south of West Bay.
The
lifeboat towed the ten metre vessel, which had developed engine problems,
to the safety of West Bay harbour
21 May 2017
Boats are blessed in the sunshine at Lyme
Regis
Dozens
lined the slipway in the sunshine at the RNLI lifeboat station in Lyme
Regis today to join the annual Blessing of the Boats service.
The
inter-denominational service, hosted by local clergy the Rev. Chris
Woodman and the Rev. Keith Vivian, acknowledges and blesses those who go
to sea professionally, or for fun, and remembers those who have lost their
lives to the waves.
Representatives of the town’s gig, sailing, and powerboat clubs took an
active part in the service along with the volunteer lifeboat crew.
A poem
written and read to the congregation by 11 year old Millie-Jade Ellis,
daughter of recent lifeboat recruit Mark Ellis, drew appreciative
applause.
Woodroffe School pupil Millie called her poem ‘What the Sea Means to Me.
She wrote: ‘The sea feeds me and excites me. It can take me to new
countries aboard a ship. Sailing away on a really long trip. The sea is
fun but sometimes rough. This is when I need to be careful and not act
tough. If I am ever in trouble. Call the lifeboat at the double. So do not
be afraid just be safe at sea. That is what the sea means to me.’
The
service ended with the local club members and the Royal British Legion
presenting wraths to the lifeboat crew who then took the wreaths aboard
the lifeboat to be laid at sea.
18
May 2017
Dory rescue
Two people
aboard a small dory class boat were rescued today by the crew of the Lyme
Regis RNLI lifeboat after their vessel suffered engine failure.
They were two miles south of
West Bexington when the problem arose and the lifeboat crew towed the dory
to the safety of West Bay harbour.
14
May 2017
Lifeboat launched to ‘drifting yacht’
Emergency calls
to coastguards turned out to be false alarms with good intent when the
crew of Lyme Regis RNLI launched the lifeboat this evening (Sun).
A 20 ft yacht
with two people aboard was reported to be drifting towards rocks near the
mouth of the River Axe.
When the
lifeboat crew arrived on scene it was clear that the yacht, with two
people aboard, was not in difficulty.
The lifeboat
was launched at 6.57pm and returned to harbour at 7.35pm.
12 May 2017
How a yellow welly and a penny farthing set
out to boost lifeboat charity
A lifeboat crew
member on a penny farthing bicycle, a vintage Jaguar, the RNLI’s mascot
Stormy Stan and more than a hundred schoolchildren all took part in the
Lyme Regis stage of the marathon journey of a yellow welly yesterday
(Fri).
The illuminated
welly is being relayed all along the south-west coast as part of the
RNLI’s Mayday fundraising campaign during which the charity hopes to raise
£750,000 towards the cost of the kit lifeboat crews have to wear.
Members of the
Sidmouth branch of the RNLI brought the welly to Lyme in a 1967 S-type
Jaguar. It was delivered to pupils at St. Michael’s School, Lyme Regis,
and they handed it over to lifeboat crew member Seb Cope who arrived at
the school on his penny farthing bike with the RNLI mascot Stormy Stan.
Seb and Stan
then took the welly to Lyme Regis lifeboat station.
Today (Sat) the
welly was taken by the Lyme Regis lifeboat crew to Portland Bill where it
was handed over to the three-masted tallship TS Pelican and later
collected by RNLI volunteers from Weymouth to continue its journey.
07
May 2017
Lone sailor drifting
in sailboat rescued by RNLI crew
A lone sailor
whose sailing boat was drifting near Charmouth was rescued by the
volunteer crew of Lyme Regis RNLI yesterday (Sun).
The lifeboat was
launched after reports that the ‘clinker’ style wooden boat had problems
with its mast and outboard engine and was drifting in the Black Ven area
east of Lyme Regis.
The lifeboat
crew towed the broken down vessel to the safety of Lyme Regis harbour.
RNLI volunteers
had been paged at 4.14pm and the lifeboat, Spirit of Loch Fyne, was
launched six minutes later. This was the fifth emergency call for the
lifeboat crew so far this year.
23 April 2017
Rescue helicopter
exercises with lifeboat crew and coastguards
The coastguard helicopter
crew taking over search and rescue duties from the team based at Portland
dropped in to Lyme Regis today (SUN) to meet the volunteers of the RNLI
and the land-based coastguards.
Coastguard helicopter 175
based at Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, and its crew of four landed on
Woodroffe School’s playing field to give the lifeboat and coastguard
teams a chance to familiarise themselves with the new aircraft, and to
exercise winching into and out of the Augusta 189 eight seater.
Coastguards and the
lifeboat crew were shown all over the helicopter by the aircraft’s captain
Simon Cree, co-pilot Will Warboys, winch operator Ritchie Waterton and
winchman Rob Sanches.
Capt. Cree, a former
Seaking pilot with the RAF, said the £26m coastguard helicopter’s
endurance is three and a half hours with a top speed of 130/135 knots.
He added: ”The visit to
Lyme Regis is all about hearts and minds and learning how best we can work
together in the future.”
John Broome, volunteer
training co-ordinator at Lyme Regis lifeboat station said: ”This exercise
was invaluable. We have had a thorough explanation of the capabilities of
the new helicopter by its crew. We have already exercised with this
helicopter at sea, but to get to close quarters with the aircraft and its
crew on land is just a very useful bonus and prepares us for any future
incidents when we will need to work together as a team.”
9 April 2017
‘Three and a dog
cut off by tide’
Three people and a dog were reported to be cut
off by the tide when the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched today
(Sun).
The volunteer lifeboat crew launched at 12
20pm and returned 20 minutes later after the people and their
dog made their own way to safety from rocks on Broad Ledge east of the
harbour.
6 April 2017
Fund-raisers boost
RNLI charity by £65,000
Volunteer fund-raisers in Lyme Regis and
Charmouth boosted the RNLI’s income by more than £65,000 last year.
Members of the local fund-raising arm of the
RNLI – the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild - received the news at
their annual meeting last night (Weds) when treasurer Brian Cursley
delivered his report.
The total included a variety of events and
donations as well as £27,000 raised during lifeboat week.
Chairman Irene Roper said it had been a record
breaking year and she had been heartened by the many messages of
congratulations received from the public during and after lifeboat week.
Volunteer manager of the lifeboat shop, Krys
Lavery, said the outlet had taken £122,000 and was the sixth best
performing shop in the UK.
In his annual report to guild members,
Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks said volunteer crew members had
answered 27 calls for help last year and were credited with saving three
lives.
He said there now appeared to be a familiar
pattern of emergencies – almost half of calls for help were from people
getting into difficulty ashore when out walking and cut off by the tide or
falling on rocks. The other half were incidents involving boating,
fishing and surfing.
Guest speaker was Nigel Jones, the RNLI’s Area
Lifesaving Manager, who told guild members about many changes throughout
the organisation’s structure and the aim to reduce drownings around the
coast.
Volunteer press officer Richard Horobin gave
members a brief preview of his book on the history of lifeboats and
lifeboat people in Lyme Regis. The book is due to be published in time for
this year’s lifeboat week which starts on July 22nd.
3 April 2017
Four lifeboats in
search exercise
Four volunteer lifeboat crews – one each from
the RNLI stations at Lyme Regis and Exmouth and two from the independent
Sidmouth station – took part in an exercise lasting some three hours
yesterday (Sun).
The operation, officially known as a Multi
Vessel Search Exercise, took place off Sidmouth and included towing and
search patterns.
Brian Street, helm of the Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat : “This was a large and important exercise for everyone involved
and I know we all found it a valuable experience.”
27 March 2017
Lifeboat crew
exercise with new search and rescue helicopter
Volunteer crew members of the RNLI lifeboat in
Lyme Regis have taken part in their first exercise with the helicopter
team assuming the search and rescue role in the next few weeks.
The helicopter crew, from Lee–on–the–Solent,
Hampshire, are due to take over from those based at Portland.
Two lifeboat crews took part in the exercise
during their regular training evening last week.
Helm Jon Broome, who is also the lifeboat’s
training co-ordinator, said:” The exercise was very worthwhile.
“I spoke to the helicopter captain afterwards
and he said he was very impressed with the skill and competency of the
lifeboat crew, and explained that was why he was felt happy to lower a
winchman to our boat during the exercise.”
20 March 2017
Coastal Review team
visits Lyme Regis RNLI
Top officials of the RNLI today (Monday March
20) met volunteers who run the Lyme Regis lifeboat station as part of the
charity’s ‘Coastal Review.’
A delegation led by Vice Admiral Sir Tim
Laurence spent two hours discussing the running of the lifeboat station
and hearing the views of management, crew members and fund-raisers as
well as their hopes for the future.
Sir Tim, who is chairman of the RNLI’s
Operations Committee, explained that he and his colleagues visit four
sections of the organisation each year during the Coastal Review.
He said a key focus was the gap between
Exmouth and Weymouth, and that the charity’s target of community
lifesaving had two strands…to make sure all volunteers were closely linked
with the lifeboat and crew, and education and prevention to make the coast
even safer.
Sir Tim said the RNLI saved 350 lives a year,
but between 150 and 180 died around the coast each year.
After discussing ideas for improvements to the
Lyme Regis station and its equipment, Sir Tim praised the fundraisers –
the local RNLI Guild and the lifeboat shop team – as ‘star performers.’
Nick Marks, volunteer Lifeboat Operations
Manager, said: ”The Coastal Review was a great opportunity for us to
explain how we work as a part of the community and with the coastguards
and lifeguards and to make our recommendations for improvements to our
operation.
“The delegation now take our comments back to
headquarters in Poole for thorough consideration.”
13
March 2017
Lyme Regis RNLI
lifeboat station gets a makeover
The RNLI’s lifeboat
station in Lyme Regis is undergoing a makeover to make it a more
interesting attraction for visitors.
Facts and figures, photos of the crew and
historic detail are all part of the project led by the RNLI’s Visitor
Experience Manager Amanda Woods
with input from Lifeboat Operations
Manager Nick Marks and volunteer press officer Richard Horobin.
Part of the exterior of the lifeboat
station has been re-decorated in ‘RNLI blue’ with new identity boards,
including invitations to visit the boathouse. Inside, visitors will find
plenty of detail about the role of the life-saving charity and models of
historic boats.
Amanda Woods said: ’The RNLI values
its supporters and appreciates that they are interested in the work of
its volunteers. Lyme Regis welcomes many thousands of visitors every
year, so we wanted to improve our presence in the town by making a visit
to the lifeboat station a more rewarding experience.’
Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager
Nick Marks said: “The timing of these improvements to the overall look of
our lifeboat station could not be better with summer and, of course,
Lifeboat Week not far away.”
12 March 2017
Lone sailor rescued by Lyme Regis lifeboat crew
The
owner of a classic 22ft wooden yacht was rescued by the crew of the Lyme
Regis RNLI lifeboat yesterday (Sat).
The
lone sailor, from Bridport, was reported to have ‘encountered navigational
difficulties’ two miles west of Lyme Regis during a trip from Exmouth to
West Bay.
The
lifeboat volunteers, who launched at 3.24pm, towed the yacht to the safety
of Lyme Regis harbour, arriving an hour later.
21st February
TV presenter
Jeremy Kyle popped into Lyme Regis lifeboat station
during Sunday morning's training session and met the RNLI
crew. He said he was very impressed with the RNLI volunteers
and that his mother used to be a volunteer in the lifeboat
shop on the Cobb.. He said he liked Lyme very much and
that he had his first birthday in the town some 50 years ago
and has been visiting the resort ever since.
19 February
2017
Shop volunteers praised for dedication to
lifeboat charity
Volunteers who
run the RNLI charity shop next to the lifeboat station in Lyme Regis have
celebrated another successful year.
More than
thirty people enjoyed a buffet lunch at the Hunters Lodge, Raymonds Hill,
and heard that their shop had been placed sixth in the ‘league table’ of
hundreds of lifeboat shops around the country.
In a letter to
the volunteers, the RNLI’s Retail Operations Manager, James Thompson,
praised their ’incredible hard work, dedication and skill.’
He said the
RNLI’s shops had reached an income of £6,300.000. in 2016.The English
Channel division, of which Lyme Regis is a member, had a record breaking
income of £1,000.405.
Two
presentations for Excellence in Volunteering, were made at the Lyme Regis
lunch. Carys Lowe received a framed certificate and letter of thanks for
her 15 years as secretary of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild.
Ross Bennett
was presented with a crystal award marking his 23 years as a volunteer in
the shop and collector during Lifeboat Week. The RNLI’s letter to Mr.
Bennett mentioned how people would seek him out on Red Arrows day in
Holmbush car park to hand him a donation.
Mr. Bennett has
now decided he can no longer work in the shop on a regular basis, but will
remain on the reserve list.
17 February
2017
Store donates a Fat £600 to Lyme Regis lifeboat
Staff
at the FatFace store in Lyme Regis have donated more than £600 to the
local RNLI lifeboat charity.
The
donation was raised during Black Friday weekend in November last year.
Staff members added £40 to the £562 raised in store..Under the ‘Thanks for
Giivng’ initiatve the FatFace chain nationally donated some £200,00 to
charities from its 221 stores.
In Lyme
Regis the store chose the RNLI as its charity. Store manager Kayleigh
Billson said:” We organised a few extra competitions to help raise money
for our fantastic lifeboat station, a cause dear to everyone in Lyme and
beyond.”
17
February 2017
Ex - Army chief joins
the RNLI lifeboat crew in Lyme Regis
A retired Lieutenant
Colonel with the Royal Engineers has joined the volunteer management team
of the RNLI in Lyme Regis.
Mike McAlpine, 61, served
in many trouble spots including Kuwait, where he commanded a construction
squadron involved in the restoration of essential facilities to Kuwait
City immediately after the unsuccessful invasion by Iraq, and the ‘clean
up’ of unexploded bombs and landmines.
Mike, a chartered civil
engineer and graduate of Queen’s University, Belfast, spent 20 years in
the Royal Engineers, had two spells in the Falklands and commanded a
regiment in Northern Ireland for three years before becoming the technical
authority for UK counter landmine warfare. Mike, married to Karen
with three daughters, moved to Lyme Regis from Dalwood, near Axminster, in
2014.
His last job was with BP
in Iraq where he was involved in opening up the second largest oilfield in
the world at Rumaila, south of Basra.
Mike, a keen sailor with
his Yachtmaster ‘ticket’ has become a DLA – Deputy Launching Authority –
at Lyme Regis lifeboat station. He said: “I spent a lot of time on
the water and it was always comforting to know the RNLI was there if
necessary. Since I missed the camaraderie of the military, I thought I
would offer my voluntary services to the RNLI and I am thoroughly enjoying
it.”
A member of Lyme Regis
Golf Club, Mike chairs the Axminster Hospital Community Hub Steering Group
and was a founder member of the Axminster Patient Group.
Lifeboat Operations
Manager Nick Marks said: “We welcome Mike to the management team. His
wealth of experience will be an asset, and his arrival has added even more
strength to the Lyme Regis crew.”
15 January 2017
Lifeboat crew start the year with
awards
Members of the RNLI’s volunteer
lifeboat crew in Lyme Regis and their families and friends got the new
year off to a celebratory start with their annual awards dinner.
The event at the By the Bay
restaurant yesterday (Sat) was attended by around 70 crew members and
their guests.
Among the awards was a long service
certificate to landscape gardener Garry Gibbs, a crew member for 20 years.
Senior helm Tim Edwards was voted crew member of the year, and the much
coveted bent propeller trophy went to helm Mark Colley.
A new award, Anchor Aweigh, went to
tractor driver Richard Beviss.
Another new award, for their
conscientious ‘office’ work, went to John Cable and Mark Gage.
13 January 2017
Top surgeon joins Lyme Regis RNLI
crew
 A leading cancer surgeon has joined the
volunteer crew of the RNLI lifeboat in Lyme Regis.
Mr Ken Lavery, a retired head and neck
surgeon, has joined the local RNLI team as a Deputy Launching Authority (DLA).
Mr Lavery, 67,who recently retired as lead
surgeon and Medical Director at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead,
West Sussex, is married to Krys who manages the team of volunteers running
the successful RNLI charity shop on the Cobb. They met at the
hospital where Krys was a senior ward sister and have two sons.
Scots-born Mr Lavery is a qualified
Yachtmaster and has strong family connections with the RNLI. Both his
grandfather and great grandfather were volunteers with the lifeboat at
Campbeltown that covers the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland. Mr Lavery
said: “I am thoroughly enjoying my involvement with the lifeboat crew in
Lyme Regis. “They are clearly a dedicated team and the camaraderie
is very similar to that which I found when I was involved in rugby.”
10 January 2017
RNLI crew swap boats for a refit
The volunteer crew of the RNLI lifeboat in
Lyme Regis said a temporary farewell to their vessel yesterday (Mon) as
Spirit of Loch Fyne left the town for an upgrade of its equipment.
The four year old lifeboat was taken on a
trailer by road and will eventually have a refit at the RNLI’s Inshore
lifeboat centre on the Isle of Wight.
Lifeboat mechanic Mark Gage said: ” Our boat
is due for an upgrade of its electronics ,including communications and
navigation equipment, and will be away for about three months.”
As Spirit of Loch Fyne left, a replacement
boat, number B830 and named Douglas Murray, arrived from the RNLI’s relief
fleet.
9
January 2017
Dave is
‘dunked’ as he retires from Lyme Regis RNLI
 One of the
longest-serving members of the volunteer crew of the RNLI lifeboat in Lyme
Regis, Dave Street, has retired because of work commitments.
Dave, 48, served for 22
years, starting as trainee shore crew and becoming one of the team of
helmsmen 15 years ago.
Dave joined the crew for
two main reasons. He was working as a barman in the Cobb Arms when he
overheard crew members saying they were short of volunteers. “The other
reason was more personal “ said Dave. “A cousin of mine drowned at
Bournemouth and I thought if there was anything I could do to prevent such
accidents then joining the RNLI was it.”
Dave, a self-employed
builder, added: “Of course I shall miss taking the lifeboat out, and the
camaraderie with the crew. But I won’t lose touch with all my old
colleagues.”
Dave’s last voluntary
duty with the crew was helping out with safety at the Lyme Lunge on New
Year’s Day.
And his lifeboat
colleagues gave him a thoroughly wet send off with a ceremonial dunking in
the sea.
8
January 2017
Ordeal in the
dark for broken leg victim rescued by lifeboat crew
 A man who broke his leg
after slipping on rocks staggered and crawled for three quarters of a mile
for more than two hours in the dark before he was found by a lifeboat crew
and his worried wife.
Tim Robinson,54, fell
during a walk at about 4.30pm yesterday (Sat) on the beach under Golden
Cap, east of Lyme Regis.
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat
crew launched at 7.10pm to assist coastguards in a search for Mr
Robinson. They located him during a shoreline search eight minutes later.
Two first-aid trained
crew members, Tom Crabbe and Tom Wallis, went ashore to help coastguards
assess Mr Robinson’s condition. Meanwhile the lifeboat returned to Lyme
Regis to pick up three further crew to steady the vessel in the surf when
it was beached to take Mr Robinson aboard.
Mr. Robinson’s wife,
Paula, who raised the alarm, started to walk along the beach from Seatown
looking for her husband.
She said: ”Luckily, Tim
had a torch but no mobile phone. I saw a flicker of light and thought it
must be him. But I picked up a rock, just in case it wasn’t !”
Jon Broome, who was in
charge of the lifeboat for his first ‘shout’ since qualifying as a helm,
said: ”It was a very well organised rescue by all involved. It seems Mr.
Robinson used sticks to help him stagger and crawl towards Seatown after
the injury.”
From his hospital bed in
Dorchester Mr Robinson, who is a full time member of the Territorial Army,
said: ”I just slipped on a rock and have two fractures of the right leg.
Everyone who helped me was just terrific.”
Mr Robinson was taken
aboard the lifeboat to a waiting ambulance at Lyme Regis harbour. The
lifeboat returned at 8.49pm
Mr and Mrs Robinson, from
the Derby area, had been staying in Bridport on a short holiday.
September 2016
Lyme Regis
Christening makes history at lifeboat station
 History
was made at Lyme Regis lifeboat station today when the town’s vicar
conducted a christening service for two children of an RNLI volunteer and
his wife.
Six months old Lottie and five years old Millie-Rose, whose father
Elliott Herbert is a lifeboat helm, were christened by the Rev. Jane
Skinner during a service in the boathouse with a congregation of some 70
family, friends and lifeboat crew members. It is thought to be the first
time a christening service has been held at any of the town’s lifeboat
stations since the lifeboat service began in Lyme Regis in 1826.
A ship’s bell, which has hung in the lifeboat station since it opened in
1997, was used as a font during the service.
The bell, from a 100,000 ton oil tanker, was presented to Fred Day, former
honorary secretary at the lifeboat station, when he retired from BP.
He in turn presented it to the RNLI to mark the opening of the Lyme Regis
lifeboat station.
Proud dad Elliott Herbert said: ”Lifeboats and lifeboat people have been
such an important part of our lives that Laura and I thought it would be
appropriate, and great fun, to hold the christening at the lifeboat
station surrounded by many of the people who are vital to the success of
the work of the RNLI.”
The Rev Jane Skinner said: “It was a joy to conduct the service at the
lifeboat station, and it was the first time I had used a magnificent
ship’s bell as a font.”
God parents to Millie-Rose are Lyme Regis lifeboat helm Murray Saunders,
Oliver Mallinson, Operations Manager (Lifeboats) at RNLI headquarters in
Poole, and Emma Darke, and God parents to Lottie are William Elwood, helm
with the Tower lifeboat in London and crew Assessor/Trainer and Nicola
Davis and Gemma Dunford.
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