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The seagull was on the beach built up on the outer side of the harbour wall where it was not possible to get to without a boat and the fishing weights attached to the line were holding in the sand. After making a phone call to the Duty Launching Authority, the Cox'n Ian Cannon along with 2 other crew members launched the inshore lifeboat, the Atlantic 75 class Bob Turnbull, to assist.

On arrival, the cox'n got as close as possible to the beach where 2 of the crew waded ashore and made their way to the seagull. One crew member, with gloves, carefully held the young seagull , whilst the other crew member cut the fishing line away. Once the fishing line was cut free from the bird, it was inspected to check for any obvious injuries and then released, whereby it promptly flew away and rested on the breakwater, watching its rescuers.

The 2 crew members ashore then gathered up the considerable amount of fishing line and tackle and made their way back to the awaiting inshore lifeboat to return to the boathouse and begin the the training exercise.

RNLI media contacts
• John Ray, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (Ramsgate Lifeboat)
07759 480825 / john.g.ray@talk21.com
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / tim_ash@rnli.org.uk
• Philly Byrde, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)
0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 / philly_byrde@rnli.org.uk
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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It marks the end of a contract which has seen the company fit out all 27 Tamar’s produced for the RNLI fleet.  The last one, which was accepted by the RNLI yesterday (Tuesday 21 May) will be based in Wales.

Yesterday was a day for celebration and thanks as the team at Babcock handed over the 27th Tamar to the RNLI at their base in Plymouth. Roy Barker IV will be stationed at The Mumbles lifeboat station and was accepted in to the RNLI fleet by Michael Vlasto, Operations Director for the charity. Mr Vlasto has formally accepted every Tamar except one, since production of this class of all-weather lifeboats began.

At a formal presentation Babcock and the RNLI exchanged commemorative gifts and Michael Vlasto spoke of the valuable commitment the company and its workforce had shown to the RNLI contract that saw Babcock staff put in 100,000 hours of work a year over the last decade;

‘The quality of lifeboats produced at Babcock has been consistently fantastic. Many of the staff here report that this has been the best project they’ve ever worked on and that proves that the enthusiasm we have within the RNLI has got under their skin too.  The lifeboats produced in Plymouth, and that includes 27 Tamar class all-weather lifeboats and six Severn class all-weather lifeboats, have to date launched 2,224 times, rescuing 3,023 people and saving 87 lives. I’m very grateful to everyone at Babcock and thank them for providing the RNLI with quality lifeboats that continue to save lives at sea.’

Chris Tomkins, Director and General Manager of Devonport says;

‘This has been a prestigious contract and it has been a pleasure and an honour to work for the RNLI.  There has been a great deal of job satisfaction for the staff who have been involved and I’m delighted that we have produced such high class rescue vessels. I believe we have demonstrated that we can be trusted to deliver, which is our motto. I’d like to thank all at the Plymouth RNLI lifeboat station and Coxswain Dave Milford in particular, for their help with the sea trials and the Babcock team who have continued to maintain high standards right to the end of the contract.  I wish good luck to the RNLI for the future.’ 

Future all-weather lifeboats will be produced in-house by the RNLI at a purpose built facility that is to be constructed at the charity’s Poole HQ in Dorset. The All-weather Lifeboat Centre, to be built on land already owned by the charity, will save over £3M each year once up and running.  

RNLI notes to editors

• Please find attached the following pictures, all of which should be credited to RNLI/Nigel Millard (more pictures are available from the RNLI news centre):
*The first and last Tamar class all-weather lifeboats to be fitted out by Babcock for the RNLI, at sea off Plymouth.  The first Tamar is the Peter and Lesley-Jane Nicholson, which is a relief lifeboat providing cover when Tamar’s go away for refits.  The newest Tamar is the Roy Barker IV that will be stationed at The Mumbles in Wales.  
*Chris Tomkins, Director and General Manager of Devonport, presenting a commemorative plaque to David Brookes, RNLI Engineering and Supply Director
*The last Tamar class all-weather lifeboat to be fitted out at Babcock, Roy Barker IV that will be stationed at The Mumbles in Wales.

• Babcock has fitted out all 27 Tamar class all-weather lifeboats produced so far for the RNLI. They have also fitted out six Severn class all-weather lifeboats and carried out moderations and repairs to various other lifeboats in the RNLI fleet.  The workforce at its peak totalled 128 and most of the workers have now been phased out to other jobs within the company. 
 
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Tamsin Thomas, RNLI Public Relations Manager for the south west, on 07786 668847 or email Tamsin_Thomas@rnli.org.uk

 

Page Content: The young Whippet Nitty on holiday with its owner from Kings Lynn was seen to be chasing something and failed to notice the cliff edge. Unfortunately it did not survive the fall and was recovered by the volunteer lifeboat crew and taken back to the ILB station. The distraught owner was comforted by the crew whilst Nitty was taken away by a local veterinary practice.

Page Content: As part of the charity’s international development programme, Idi has undergone rigorous training with the RNLI over the past year – both in the UK and in his home country of Senegal. Idi will return to Senegal in October to pass on his latest learning to other lifeguards back home.

In West Africa, Idi is a volunteer lifeguard and a former army rescue diver. Identified by the charity for his leadership potential, Idi was one of 14 international candidates to attend the bespoke ‘Future Leaders in Lifesaving’ course, which the RNLI ran for the first time last August at its headquarters in Poole. The course saw a group of representatives (including Idi and his colleague Moustapha) from lifesaving organisations around the world convene in the UK to learn from the RNLI how to manage and sustain their own organisations. During the course, Idi learnt about causes of drowning, the role of a lifeguard and equipment needed, how to write training programmes, and how to manage beach incidents and emergencies.

Idi and his fellow volunteer lifeguards received further training from the RNLI in December last year when two RNLI lifeguard trainers travelled to Idi’s home town of Dakar in Senegal to provide two weeks of rigorous lifesaving training, resulting in Dakar’s first dedicated lifeguarding service being established.

This summer, Idi will be patrolling Dorset beaches and delivering safety education programmes, working alongside the RNLI’s own lifeguards to help keep beach-goers safe. This will give him a vital insight into the daily running of a busy lifeguard service – from daily set-up and checks, to patrolling, offering advice to the public and carrying out and managing rescues.

Steve Wills, RNLI International Development Manager, says:

‘The RNLI’s international development programme aims to save some of the 1.2M lives lost to drowning around the world each year. By delivering training to people like Idi, we’re aiming to give others the vital skills they need to be able to set up and sustain their own lifesaving services.

‘Idi is a highly-motivated and professional lifesaver. It is less than a year since we first met him but, in that time, he has been through extensive RNLI training, both in the UK and in Senegal. He has already learnt a lot and, by patrolling with RNLI lifeguards this summer season, he will gain even more experience, which he can then share with his fellow lifeguards when he returns to Senegal. I have no doubt he will be a great asset to the RNLI this summer!’

Idi will return to Senegal at the end of the summer season and will pass on his most recently-acquired knowledge to his fellow lifeguards in Dakar, which the RNLI trained last December.  Idi will also help coordinate the next phase of the RNLI's Senegal programme, which is planned for December.

This film, which features Idi, shows the lifesaving training the RNLI delivered in Senegal last December.

Notes to Editors
• Two photos are attached: One of Idi (left) and a fellow Senegalese lifeguard, and another of a group of lifeguards being trained by the RNLI in Senegal. Please credit RNLI/Mike Lavis.
• The RNLI’s international development work is self-funding. The work is funded primarily through overseas sales of consultancy, equipment and training to countries that require those services; and external / government funding where available. In time, the RNLI will begin to fundraise for specific international projects.
• RNLI spokespeople are available for interview. Please contact RNLI Public Relations on the number below.

RNLI media contacts
For more information, contact Laura Fennimore, RNLI Public Relations Officer, on 01202 663181 or Laura_Fennimore@rnli.org.uk.

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Crew members from Port Isaac and Anstruther lifeboat stations and members of the RNLI Flood Rescue Team will be awarded Medals for Gallantry – the RNLI’s highest accolades.

Launching their inshore lifeboat into extremely challenging conditions, three Port Isaac lifeboat crew members faced rough and dangerous seas as they tried to rescue two people swept into the sea from the cliffs off the North Cornwall coast in April 2012. Helmsman Damien Bolton, 32, will be given a Silver Medal for Gallantry and crew members Nicola-Jane Bradbury, 40, and Matthew Main, 30, will each be given Bronze Medals for Gallantry for their part in the rescue. They managed to pull one of the men to safety. The other was recovered to the lifeboat, but, tragically, did not survive.

The RNLI’s flood rescue team negotiated fast moving flood waters, debris and darkness to rescue a woman who had been swept from her car near Umberleigh, Devon on 23 December 2012. Vanessa Glover was found clinging to a tree surrounded by flood waters and three members of the RNLI boat team that reached her will be recognised for their part in the rescue. Boat Team Leader Paul Eastment, 46, Helmsman Chris Missen, 26, and Crew Member Martin Blaker-Rowe, 34, will be awarded Bronze Medals for Gallantry. It is the first time that RNLI volunteers have been awarded medals for a flood rescue.

Anstruther inshore lifeboat Helmsman Barry Gourlay, 31, is to be awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry for his part in the rescue of two people from a motor vessel that had been driven onto rocks amidst breaking waves and in total darkness 10 miles south east of St Andrews, Fife on 1 August 2012. Despite the challenging conditions, Helmsman Gourlay and his two lifeboat crew members managed to pluck the two-man crew from their stricken vessel minutes before it was washed further onto the shore and out of reach of the lifeboat.

Michael Vlasto, RNLI Operations Director, said: ‘All these rescues took place in extremely challenging conditions, and are a testament to the courage, commitment and skill of our volunteer crew and flood rescue team members.’

Michael Vlasto is also being awarded an Honorary RNLI Silver Medal for his service to the RNLI ahead of his retirement from the charity in July. In his 40 years at the RNLI – the last 16 as Operations Director – Michael has seen the charity grow from a lifeboat organisation to one which now includes lifeguards, hovercraft pilots and flood rescue teams, as well as preventative and education work.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The medals will be awarded at a ceremony at the Barbican, London, on Thursday 23 May. The ceremony will be filmed and a copy will be available from 5pm (please contact the RNLI press office on 01202 336789 for a copy).

• Summary of Gallantry Awards:

o RNLI Silver Medal for Gallantry – Senior Helmsman Damien Bolton, Port Isaac lifeboat station

o RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry – Crew Member Nicola-Jane Bradbury, Port Isaac lifeboat station

o RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry – Crew Member Matthew Main, Port Isaac lifeboat station

o RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry – Boat Team Leader Paul Eastment, Porthcawl lifeboat station volunteer and RNLI staff Divisional Assessor/Trainer.

o RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry – Helmsman Chris Missen, Porthcawl lifeboat station volunteer.

o RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry – Crew Member Martin Blaker-Rowe, Poole-based RNLI Trainer

o RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry – Helmsman Barry Gourlay, Anstruther lifeboat station

• For more information on each rescue, please follow the links below:

o Bravery of Port Isaac lifeboat crew recognised with RNLI award: press release

o First RNLI Gallantry awards to be awarded to Flood Rescue Team: press release – video of rescue available

o Daring rescue by Anstruther lifeboat crew celebrated with RNLI award: press release

• Films about each rescue, including interviews with the crew involved and those rescued, are available for download from 2.30pm on Thursday 23 May at the below links. These are free to use, please just credit the RNLI.

o Port Isaac lifeboat crew rescue anglers from rough waters: http://rnli.org/Pages/Video-Details.aspx?VideoItemID=jRlwmW6O

o RNLI Flood Rescue Team rescue woman from fast-flowing waters: http://rnli.org/Pages/Video-Details.aspx?VideoItemID=a53ZxZOB

o Anstruther lifeboat crew rescue two from motor vessel on rocks: http://rnli.org/Pages/Video-Details.aspx?VideoItemID=nVRLO7nR

Media contacts

For more information please contact Isla Reynolds, Public Relations Officer, on 01202 663127 or 07899 076224 or by email at isla_reynolds@rnli.org.uk. Or contact Lauren Hockey, Public Relations Officer on 01202 336194 or by email at lauren_hockey@rnli.org.uk

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Paul ‘Gunny’ Gunn, who has been a volunteer crew member since 2010, has just been appointed to the position to support the full time Station Mechanic, ‘Jock’ Anderson and Second Mechanic, Creon Carmichael. As well as undertaking training ‘on the job’ at the station and on the lifeboat, Gunny has attended an engineering course at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset. He was then required to pass a rigorous assessment conducted by one of the RNLI’s Divisional Technical Managers. This consisted of an exercise at sea during which Gunny was required to respond to and fix a range of testing technical problems, including responding to a ‘fire’ in the engine room.

The role of the mechanic on an all-weather lifeboat is a crucial one both afloat and ashore. He or she is responsible for maintaining the lifeboat’s engines and all the machinery at an all-weather lifeboat station. At sea, the mechanic checks that the engines and other machinery are all working properly, as well as being part of the crew.

By day, Gunny (who is 41 and from Preston originally) works for Argyll and Bute Council. He has been the station’s Emergency Mechanic for the past year, providing cover for both Jock and Creon and he has performed this role on several ‘shouts’, most notably during the 11 hour rescue of a fishing boat off Coll in very rough seas in January this year.

Tobermory Lifeboat Operations Manager, Ian Stevens said: ‘The Mechanic performs a critical role on the lifeboat, not only ensuring that it is maintained to a high standard at all times but also responding to any technical problems which may arise during training or a shout. Gunny has received some world class training not only from the RNLI College but also from Jock who has many years’ experience working in this role on the lifeboat. Our three mechanics will continue to ensure that our £2 million lifeboat is always ready to respond to any emergency and to save lives at sea.’

Notes for editors

• The photographs show Paul ‘Gunny’ Gunn in the engine room of Tobermory’s Severn Class all-weather lifeboat, Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey, as well as operating the radio in the Mechanic’s seat in the wheelhouse. Please credit RNLI/Sam Jones.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Sam Jones, Tobermory RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07747 601900 or sam.j.jones@btinternet.com or Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07786 668903, richard_smith2@rnli.org.uk or Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026,

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The volunteer lifeboat crew were paged at 1715 to respond to a report of a man with a leg injury at the pontoons in Tobermory. Crew members treated the man before an ambulance arrived. They then assisted ambulance personnel in moving the man off the pontoons which were moving around in the fresh north-easterly breeze. The man was then transferred by ambulance to the hospital at Craignure for further treatment.


Notes for editors

• This was Tobermory RNLI’s eighth call out of 2013.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Sam Jones, Tobermory RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07747 601900 or sam.j.jones@btinternet.com or Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07786 668903, richard_smith2@rnli.org.uk or Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, henry_weaver@rnli.org.uk or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.

Page Content: Both boats launched to 2 vessels in difficulty on the rock groyne at the entrance to Rhyl harbour. The first power vessel had engine failure, and a yacht had gone to their aid, but had caught the rocks and lost their rudder, resulting in both boats going over the rock groyne and being in danger of being washed ashore. The Inshore lifeboat launched first, and established a tow on the yacht to take it clear of the rocks and the shore. The All-weather boat followed up, and arrived on scene to find the power vessel's crew had restarted the engine, and it was making it's way back round the groyne to Rhyl harbour. The ILB continued the tow until there was sufficient water for the AWB to take up the tow. This was successfully completed and the yacht and it's 5 passengers were towed safely back to Rhyl harbour, to Rhyl coastguard team, who assisted with mooring the boat. Once it was established that both casualties were safe, the lifeboats returned to station at 2000. The picture taken from the AWB shows the ILB towing the yacht to deeper water, with the power vessel entering the harbour behind.

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As the Atlantic lifeboat Tanni Grey was first on scene a crew member was put onto the rocks to assess the situation. Shortly afterwards the D class Elsie Ida Meade arrived on scene and two more crew members were able to assist with the casualty.  

Due to the conditions and where the casualty was positioned, a great amount of concentration and skill was needed by both the helms on the two lifeboats. The RAF search and rescue helicopter, Rescue 122 based at RAF Valley arrived on scene at 3:26pm where a winchman was lowered to prepare the casualty for medical evacuation.

RNLI contact

For more information please contact Gemma Griffiths, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, on 077929498433. 

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The event was hosted at the lifeboat station where the donor of the lifeboat, Mrs Patricia Bird from Kent splashed the bow with champagne as she named the new lifeboat in memory of her husband. 

Guests were greeted first by Paul Finn, Chairman of the Bude RNLI Lifeboat Management Group who said the ceremony continued a proud tradition for the station:

‘The first lifeboat for Bude was presented by King William IV in 1837. Our first D class inshore lifeboat arrived in 1966 and today we are welcoming the George Bird ensuring we have the very best up-to-date lifeboat. Without the generosity of Mrs Bird and that of our many volunteers, the RNLI wouldn’t be the charity it is today, thank you.’   

Chris Cloke, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager at Bude, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the station and took the opportunity to remind people of the need for more volunteers to support the charity’s work in the town:

‘We urgently need to find new helpers and supporters, including recruits for the crew and people who can help with our fundraising events. We hope this ceremony will illustrate the importance of our work saving lives at sea, and persuade people that there’s a lot of fun to be had as part of a local RNLI team.’

After the ceremony, during which Mrs Bird was presented with a bouquet of flowers, the new D class inshore lifeboat launched to the sound of a lone piper playing Trelawney.  The guests were then treated to hot drinks and very popular home-made biscuits produced by two of the station’s talented volunteers. 
 
George Bird replaces the station’s former D class inshore lifeboat Henry Philip that was on station from 2004 to 2012. During this time the lifeboat launched 69 times and rescued 29 people.

RNLI notes to editors

• The attached pictures should be credited to RNLI/Simon Culliford and are as follows:
*Mrs Patricia Bird naming the new Bude RNLI D class inshore lifeboat George Bird in memory of her late husband, with a little help from Tom Mansell, RNLI Divisional Operations Manager.
*The naming ceremony venue at Bude RNLI lifeboat station as the event begins.
*The new Bude RNLI D class inshore lifeboat George Bird is put through her paces at sea straight after the ceremony.

• A short video of the event is available from Tamsin Thomas via the contact details below.
 
• Since 1963 the D class has become the workhorse of the charity, being highly manoeuvrable, able to work close inshore in shallow water, broken surf and areas that other lifeboats in the fleet could not operate. D class lifeboats have accounted for 30% of all RNLI launches, and the D class lifeboat accounts for 48% of all inshore lifeboat launches.  The D class has been constantly refined and improved with many of the changes being suggested and trialled by volunteer crew members before being incorporated into the evolving design. The latest version was first produced in 2003 and incorporates the use of modern lightweight composite materials rather than timber, updated navigation and communications systems, and a more powerful outboard motor to improve acceleration and give a maximum speed of 25 knots.

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Tamsin Thomas, RNLI Public Relations Manager for the south west, on 07786 668847 or email Tamsin_Thomas@rnli.org.uk

Page Content: Operations Director Michael Vlasto will receive an honorary RNLI Silver Medal, one of the charity’s highest accolades, at its Annual Presentation of Awards Ceremony in London on 23 May.

In his 16 years as Operations Director, Michael played an extraordinarily significant role in steering the charity from a lifeboating organisation to one which now includes lifeguards, hovercraft, flood rescue teams, lifeboats on the River Thames, and lifesaving training abroad. Devoted to his lifeboat volunteers’ safety, Michael and his team strove for cutting-edge lifesaving technology and training. In his 39 years at the RNLI, lifeboats have more than trebled in speed and major advances have been made in crew safety.

RNLI Chairman, Admiral The Lord Boyce, said: ‘Michael is a well-respected, influential and charismatic leader of the RNLI’s coastal operations and his achievements in the RNLI have been outstanding. He has inspired and implemented many of the more innovative - and sometimes courageous - steps that the Institution has taken in recent years.’ 

On being told of his award, Michael said: ‘It took me completely by surprise – I feel very humbled. Working for this wonderful organisation has been a privilege and also intensely rewarding.’

As Operations Director, Michael is responsible for the charity’s 237 lifeboat stations, their 6,000 crew, and 1,000 lifeguards across the UK and Ireland. He has shared the highs and lows of a close-knit maritime search and rescue organisation, which is integral to the UK and Irish coastal communities.

Michael was a Divisional Inspector in Scotland in 1981, when the eight volunteer crew of the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne were lost in Cornwall while trying to save those onboard the coaster Union Star.

Michael continued: ‘There have been tragic times. Penlee, and incidents where crew and their families are directly affected, stay with you for ever.’

Michael started at the RNLI in 1975 as an Assistant Inspector after nine years as a professional mariner with P&O. Since then, he oversaw the progression from an 8-knot fleet of Oakley, Barnet, Watson and Rother class lifeboats to the new, technologically advanced, 25-knot lifeboats like today’s Shannon and Tamar. As well as the improvements to the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat fleet, Michael introduced rescue hovercraft in 2002 to improve coverage in shallow waters and over mud flats and the charity now has four lifeboat stations equipped with these craft.

He was also instrumental in introducing lifeboats onto the River Thames in 2002 after the Marchioness disaster. Tower lifeboat station, near Waterloo Bridge in central London, uses boats capable of 40 knots for rapid response and is now the busiest station in the RNLI. 

RNLI lifeguards started watching over beaches in the southwest in 2001, a move seen by some as a radical departure from the RNLI’s traditional focus on lifeboats. Lifeguards now form a major and fundamental part of the charity’s lifesaving activity with around 1,000 lifeguards now patrolling over 200 beaches around the UK.

Under Michael’s leadership the charity’s Flood Rescue Team was formed in 2002 and had its busiest year in 2012, with 12 deployments to flooding incidents, notably in Wales, Devon and Cornwall.

Michael said: ‘These developments have been focussed on saving more lives at sea, which is what we’re about. But none of this would have happened without the dedication and hard work of a lot of people. And not just operational people; without the funding, without the support, without the technical expertise, we wouldn’t have made these massive steps forwards.’

Michael, a keen advocate of sharing RNLI knowledge and expertise with search and rescue organisations abroad, further developed the Institution’s move into international work, which has included training lifeguards in Senegal and Kenya, and lifeboat training in the People’s Republic of China, Bangladesh and Uruguay. Michael is currently Chairman of Trustees of the International Maritime Rescue Federation, the NGO representing the world’s search and rescue services which has consultative status at the International Maritime Organisation.

Lord Boyce continued: ‘The result of Michael’s unparalleled dedication to lifesaving - giving his time, emotion and commitment to the RNLI for nearly 40 years - is that he leaves behind an organisation which has grown massively in confidence and reach; which enjoys an unparalleled reputation for successful operations; and which has found a secure place in the public affection.
 
‘He also leaves behind the over 7,000 men and women who crew and operate the RNLI’s lifeboat stations, and about 1,000 lifeguards, feeling well-supported, well-equipped and highly confident in their abilities – all as a direct result of his stewardship’ 

Michael will be presented with his honorary Silver Medal at the RNLI’s Annual Presentation of Awards at the Barbican in London on 23 May. He retires in July and will be succeeded by George Rawlinson, currently RNLI Head of Lifesaving Operations. Among other plans, Michael intends to teach his grandchildren to sail in the dinghies his own children learned to sail. They will be wearing lifejackets!

Michael Vlasto timeline:

1966
• Joins the P&O Shipping company as a cadet, working his way up to Senior Second Officer
1975
• Joins the RNLI as Assistant Inspector based in the charity’s headquarters in Poole
1976
• Becomes Divisional Inspector of Lifeboats (Scotland South)
1984
• Becomes Divisional Inspector of Lifeboats (West)
1990
• Becomes Staff Officer Operations (Training)
1994
• Becomes Sea Safety Liaison Officer
1997
• Operations Director

RNLI timeline:

1972 
• The first RIB (rigid inflatable boat), the Atlantic 21, enters service.
1981
• The eight volunteer crew of the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne are lost while trying to save those onboard the coaster Union Star. This was the last time that volunteer RNLI crew members lost their lives while on service.
1999
• A new, standardised form of crew training, called Competency Based Training (CoBT) was introduced across the RNLI.
2001
• First RNLI lifeguards patrol beaches in southwest England
• The first inland lifeboat station is established at Enniskillen in Northern Ireland
2002
• Introduction of RNLI Rescue Hovercraft
• Introduction of RNLI International Flood Rescue Team
• Four RNLI lifeboat stations are established on the River Thames
2003
• Rod MacDonald becomes the first RNLI lifeguard to be awarded and RNLI medal.
2004
• Aileen Jones becomes the first female lifeboat crew member to be awarded an RNLI medal
2004
• The RNLI College opens in Poole
2006
• The Tamar class lifeboat enters service at Tenby


Media contacts
For more information please contact Isla Reynolds, Public Relations Officer, on 01202 663127 or 07899 076224 or by email at isla_reynolds@rnli.org.uk.

Page Content: The new evening race series got off to an unsuccessful start for one of the crews last night when a stray spinnaker halyard became entangled around the yachts rudder and propeller whilst the crew were manoeuvring at the start of the race. With restricted steerage and too close inshore to take any risk, the three people on board had no alternative but to call for assistance from Dover Coastguard. The volunteer crew of Eastbourne ALB were scrambled and were quickly on scene. The vessel was then taken under tow back to the marina locks.  

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The alarm was raised to Aberdeen Coastguard around 6.30pm by one of the stranded youths to advise they required assistance and that one of the group had fallen. 

Invergordon RNLI all-weather lifeboat Douglas Aikman Smith launched at 6.37pm and arrived on scene 15 minutes later and located the youths 50ft up the jagged cliff face.  

The lifeboat’s daughter craft was used to access the shoreline and two of the volunteer crew made their way up the cliff face to the ledge where the youths were stranded.
RNLI crew  classed the conditions as too dangerous to safely take them back down, therefore Aberdeen Coastguard requested the assistance of RAF Rescue 137 from Lossiemouth.  

With the crew comforting the group aged from 16 to 22, the Sea king Helicopter arrived within 10 minutes and winched the three friends to the shoreline.  

The three youths, two sisters and a male friend, were taken back to the lifeboat to be assessed and warmed up, while the lifeboat made its way back to berth at Invergordon West Harbour.  

Andrew Murray, Invergordon RNLI Coxswain said, “They did the right thing and call for help and not attempt to climb back down the cliff.”

RNLI Media Contacts: Michael MacDonald, Invergordon volunteer lifeboat press officer, 07751 204647. 

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The crew worked closely with the Coastguard and paramedics to help the gentleman who is now making a good recovery.

The lifeboat had already helped the fishing boat, Charlie's Dreams, and its occupants in the early hours of Saturday near the Rhyminey River in the Bristol Channel, when they had towed the boat into Cardiff after it suffered engine problems. Now on it's way back to its original launch site after its engine was fixed and with two people on board, the boat had been reported as overdue. 

The Coastguard asked Penarth lifeboat crew and land-based coastguard teams to help look for the boat.  The coastguard team located the boat and directed the lifeboat to it.

When the Atlantic inshore lifeboat arrived they took one woman suffering from seasickness off and began to tow the boat back to harbour.

During the tow, the man on board, Darren Wembridge, said he was experiencing severe chest pains and the crew swiftly called on their colleagues in the D class inshore lifeboat, who were helping another boat elsewhere, to help.

The crew helped Darren onto the lifeboat and gave him advanced first aid as they took him quickly to a waiting ambulance. The crew transferred him to the paramedics who took him to hospital.

Darren said: 'Thank you for everything you have done for me and my partner over the weekend. I am forever grateful.'

Jason Dunlop, volunteer crew at Penarth and one of those treating Darren, said: 'It was a real team effort - the Coastguard team searched up the coast and spotted the boat, which meant that we could get there really quickly. Once we'd rescued him we were then able to pass him onto the paramedics.'

Jason continued: 'It just goes to show that telling someone when you're due back in harbour can be a lifesaver. We were there to help Darren because someone had reported the boat as overdue - we were in the right place at the right time and are so pleased to have been able to help Darren and hear that he is making a good recovery.'

The dramatic rescue came after a busy day for the Penarth crew. As well as the two launches to the fishing boat Charlie's Dreams, the crew had also helped a sailing boat at 11am. They were towing that boat back to harbour when it started taking on water and the crew were forced to beach it. They returned at 6pm to help refloat the yacht and make sure it was no longer taking on water. The yacht had been safely refloated when the call came for the D class inshore lifeboat to help the casualty suffering from chest pains.

Page Content: Two persons, one in an open canoe and the other in a kayak, were reported by the Coastguard’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Stornoway as having difficulties in Gruinard Bay and a red flare had been sighted.

One of the two men, both whom were staying in the area on holiday, decided to take his canoe to sea off the beach at Mellon Udrigle on the west side of Gruinard Bay. Unfortunately his open Canadian style canoe caught too much of the wind and he soon found himself being blown out into the bay. His friend could see the canoe was having difficulty in the strong winds and decided to join him in his kayak. However, despite their best efforts for over an hour, the pair found themselves unable to make any headway back towards the beach against the wind, which by that time was blowing offshore at up to 25 miles per hour.

The men, seeing people watching from the beach, then tied their craft together and set off a red flare, recognised at sea as being an emergency distress signal. They also carried a mobile phone with them and used it to call the coastguard on 999 for assistance, resulting in the launch of the Lochinver lifeboat.

The lifeboat arrived in Gruinard Bay and located the two men about 40 minutes later, after a slightly rough passage down through the Summer Isles in a choppy sea. As the lifeboat came into view, the pair let off an orange smoke flare, also recognised at sea as an emergency distress signal. This made locating them significantly easier for the crew of the lifeboat and the two men were quickly taken aboard and their craft recovered from the water. Appropriate casualty care was administered in the form of a number of chocolate biscuits as both men were warm in their dry suits and appeared to be fit and well and in good spirits, just a little peckish.

The coxswain of the lifeboat on the day, Bruce MacKenzie, said; ”The two men were prepared for being at sea; wearing dry suits and carrying lifejackets and flares to attract attention. The only other equipment they might consider carrying in future is a VHF radio as an essential piece of kit for communicating at sea beyond the range of mobile phones.”
 
The lifeboat then returned closer in to the beach at Mellon Udrigle and the two men were taken ashore by the lifeboat’s smaller inflatable boat and landed on the beach, followed by their canoe and kayak.

When asked what his plans were for the rest of the afternoon, the canoeist insisted he would not be going back to sea and instead would be walking his dog very much on dry land.

The lifeboat then departed Gruinard Bay at 01:45 pm and returned to Lochinver and was tied up alongside her own pontoon ready for service again at 03:50 pm.

Page Content:

She’s now being recognised for her efforts with the RNLI Youth Supporter Award, to be presented at a ceremony in London on 23 May.

Natasha, 15, from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, has athetoid cerebral palsy which affects all of her limbs and speech. Using a specially adapted boat, Miss Isle Too, which allows Natasha to steer by sucking and blowing into a tube, she undertook a round-the-Island voyage on 9 September last year. She has so far raised over £17,000 for the RNLI and two other charities close to her heart.

Natasha was inspired to raise money for the RNLI after her sailing instructor was injured during a boat race and rescued by the charity’s volunteer crew.

She said: 'Cowes lifeboat helped my friend last year who was involved in an accident - so now it’s my chance to help them!'

Mark Southwell, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Cowes Lifeboat Station, said: ‘Through Natasha’s fundraising our lifeboat station has been equipped with a new kitchen – no lifeboat station works without a nice strong cup of tea, so it’s undoubtedly one of the most important parts. We’re very grateful for that.

‘The crew have become firm friends with both Natasha and her family. We owe an awful lot to Tash, and we just hope we never have to meet professionally!’

On the day of the challenge, the crew from Cowes launched their inshore lifeboat for the final leg of Natasha’s journey, and held up a banner welcoming her back to the harbour, accompanied by the cheers of a large crowd.

Natasha’s mother Amanda summed up the emotion of the day: ‘The moment Natasha crossed the finish line, there wasn’t a dry eye on any of the boats.’ 

But Natasha won’t stop there – her next adventure is to cross the Channel from Dover to Calais in Miss Isle Too in July of this year. You can find out more about her adventure via her website, www.missisle.com.  

ENDS

Notes to editors
• The RNLI’s annual presentation of awards takes place at the Barbican Centre in London on 23 May. Medals for gallantry are presented to selected crew, volunteers and lifeguards. Fundraisers and corporate partners are also recognised for their contribution to the charity.
• A short film about Natasha’s story will be available on the RNLI’s Press Centre after the awards ceremony at 2.30pm on 23 May.
• Other recipients of RNLI Supporter Awards will feature on RNLI social media channels in the coming weeks, and will use the hashtag #ProudOfOurCrowd. 
• Photo shows Natasha with her boat, Miss Isle Too. Please credit RNLI.
Natasha Lambert
• The total raised by Natasha in her round-the-island voyage was £17,758.47.
• The other two charities that Natasha’s total fund will be split between are Isle of Wight Scope and the Ellen MacArthur Trust.
• Follow Natasha’s progress at www.missisle.com

RNLI media contacts
For further information, please contact:
• Lauren Hockey, Public Relations Officer, on 01202 336194 or by email at lauren_hockey@rnli.org.uk

Page Content:

Although the RNLI station's all weather Trent class lifeboat, Esme Anderson, and the inshore Atlantic 75 class, Bob Turnbull, launched timeously when they arrived on scene the 30ft. Dutch yacht was aground on the water's edge in the sandy bay on an ebbing tide. 

With the yacht now firmly aground and having confirmed with the on scene Coastguard Mobile Team that the one crew member was safe and unharmed and that they would deal with matters ashore the lifeboats were stood down and returned to Ramsgate.

RNLI media contacts

• John Ray, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (Ramsgate Lifeboat)
07759 480825 / john.g.ray@talk21.com
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / tim_ash@rnli.org.uk
• Philly Byrde, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)
0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 / philly_byrde@rnli.org.uk
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

Page Content: The fishing boat ”Nimrod”, which operates charters out of Kinlochbervie, was heading out to sea for a day’s angling with a party of 10 on board when the skipper noticed his oil pressure dropping and decided to stop his engine. On closer inspection he found a part in the oil filtration system had failed and he was indeed losing oil. At that point the skipper made the wise decision to alert the coastguard on emergency VHF radio channel 16 that he was experiencing difficulties and was in need of urgent assistance.

The Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Stornoway then requested the Lochinver lifeboat to launch and as the pagers went off to summon the crew from their peaceful Sunday mornings, some were only just waking, one was in the bath, others were having a leisurely breakfast and 2 were on the bridge of a fishing trawler in harbour doing their duty as Fishery Officers.

The lifeboat then launched within 5 minutes after being paged and arrived alongside the disabled “Nimrod” an hour later at 10:50 am. In the interim a smaller local fishing boat had stood by the “Nimrod”, helping to arrest her drift toward the rocks in an on shore wind, blowing from the south west at about 15 to 20 mph.

The lifeboat quickly took the “Nimrod” under tow and she was placed alongside her berth on the harbour wall inside Kinlochbervie harbour half an hour later at 11:20 am. The party of anglers, up from Aviemore, were disappointed not to have their day’s fishing but were delighted with the excitement of being rescued by the lifeboat and all expressed their sincere gratitude.

Having ensured the “Nimrod”, her skipper and all passengers were safe and secure, the lifeboat departed Kinlochbervie to return to Lochinver and was tied up alongside her own pontoon ready for service again at 01:30 pm.

Page Content:

The RNLI station’s all weather lifeboat, the Trent class Esme Anderson, was launched to at 4.20pm to assist the 34ft. yacht which was some 12 miles east of Ramsgate and had been sailing from the continent. The lifeboat was on the scene some 30 minutes after launch and managed to get a line aboard the casualty, which, in the weather conditions, was in a dangerous situation.

Following this the yacht and her crew were safely towed to Ramsgate Harbour, a slow process in the weather conditions and taking some 2 hours.

RNLI media contacts

• John Ray, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (Ramsgate Lifeboat)
07759 480825 / john.g.ray@talk21.com
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / tim_ash@rnli.org.uk
• Philly Byrde, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)
0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 / philly_byrde@rnli.org.uk
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.

Page Content: A flotilla of French sailors had spent the night in Sovereign Harbour before setting sail to cross the Channel to Fecamp in Northern France. Unfortunately for them, fishing gear had been placed very close to the harbour entrance which the visitors failed to notice whilst hauling their sails for their return passage. Stuck fast in the gear they sent out a ‘Pan-Pan’ distress call which was answered by Dover Coastguard. With another vessel from the French fleet acting as interpreter communication was established with Eastbourne ALB which was quickly on scene. Eventually the ALB managed to extradite the vessel from the entrapment. Having checked that steerage and engine facility had been restored the yacht was able to continue its passage.

Page Content:

Come rain or shine, the August bank holiday is one of the busiest weekends of the year for the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew members and lifeguards. This year, despite renewed strike action by HM Coastguard members, it will be business as usual for the charity’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards.
 
Last August bank holiday weekend, the RNLI launched lifeboats 230 times to those in danger at sea, while RNLI lifeguards responded to 819 incidents on busy beaches.

This year, the charity’s crews and lifeguards are preparing for another busy time despite further HM Coastguard strike action. The RNLI lifesaving charity is independent of the Government and HM Coastguard and is operating normally.

RNLI Chief Executive Andrew Freemantle CBE is concerned that the strike action could affect lifeboat launching:

‘Anything that causes a break in the communications chain between those requiring assistance at sea, HM Coastguard and the rescue resources – in our case RNLI lifeboats – could potentially put lives at risk. Therefore we are monitoring the situation closely and liaising with the coastguard over their contingency plans. The RNLI responds to 9 out of 10 maritime emergency calls requiring lifeboats and, in the light of continuing industrial action, and to minimise the potential effect of any delay in emergency communication, the RNLI is reviewing its options regarding launching its lifeboats to maritime emergencies.’

Freemantle is also keen to ensure that the public are clear that RNLI lifeboats and lifeguards will not be on strike this weekend:

‘There is still some confusion in the minds of the public over the respective roles of the RNLI and the Coastguard. The RNLI’s charitable UK lifeboat service is provided entirely through the public’s generosity, unlike the Coastguard which is government-funded. If people think our lifeboat crews are part of the strike then there is a real possibility that they will not support our charity in the future.’

As the weekend approaches, following recent tragic incidents around the coast, RNLI National Beach Safety Manager Steve Wills is concerned that the public are still not taking safety warnings seriously enough:

‘Too many families and friends have had to face the harrowing task of coming to terms with the loss of a loved one on the coast this summer, some of these could have been avoided if people took safety seriously; but RNLI research shows that less than ten per cent of people consider safety when choosing a beach to swim at.

‘The unpredictable nature of the weather is unlikely to deter avid beach-goers and sea-farers from going to the beach and using the water this weekend so it’s even more important that they swim at lifeguarded beaches. We are also very concerned at the increasing numbers of people tombstoning, especially when under the influence of alcohol. We don’t recommend tombstoning under any circumstances, but our advice is if you do is to always check the depth first and never jump or dive if you are unsure of what’s under the surface of the water. It’s important to remember that the depth of the water can alter quickly with a changing tide.

‘The August bank holiday weekend is always a busy one for us. If you’re on the coast or at sea please make safety a priority, follow our safety tips and have a great weekend.’

Beach safety tips:
1. Always swim at a lifeguarded beach and between the red and yellow flags
2. Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
3. Always supervise children and never let them play in the water alone
4. If you get into trouble, stick your hand in the air and shout for help
5. If you see someone else in trouble, tell a lifeguard. If you can’t see a lifeguard, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard

Sea Safety tips:
1. Wear a lifejacket
2. Check your engine and fuel
3. Tell others where you are going
4. Carry some means of calling for help
5. Keep an eye on weather and tides

Notes to editors / picture desks / news desks:

· During previous strike action, there have been instances of media reports confusing the respective roles of the RNLI and HM Coastguard. This is particularly damaging to the reputation of the RNLI, a charity, which is reliant upon donations to support its volunteer lifeboat crews and its lifeguards to save lives at sea.

· Please ensure that any images use in relation to the HM Coastguard strike threat do not portray RNLI lifeboats in a way that suggests RNLI lifeboat crews are taking part in the strike action.

· HM Coastguard has a statutory responsibility for coordinating search and rescue (SAR) around the coastline of the UK. HM Coastguard decides which resources are needed for a search and rescue incident and requests lifeboats to launch – RNLI volunteer crews respond to that request by launching lifeboats and carrying out search and rescue at sea.

· Two photos are attached: One of an RNLI Tamar class all-weather lifeboat (please credit Nicholas Leach) and another of an RNLI lifeguard (please credit Greg Spray).

· For video footage of RNLI lifeboats and lifeguards, visit the following links to the RNLI’s official YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehTyqCQ5mI0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afC96imL9Cs

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone the RNLI Public Relations office on 01202 336789 or email pressoffice@rnli.org.uk.
 
RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press

Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 100 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Page Content: The President was accompanied by his wife Sabina and the couple spent some time viewing the historical exhibition in the lifeboat station before unveiling a plaque on the lifeboat station’s wall to commemorate the visit.  The President and Mrs Higgins then walked through the village where the President addressed the crowds that had gathered in the sunshine on the main street.

President Higgins and Mrs Higgins first stop on arriving in the village was the stone lifeboat station in the middle of the main street which overlooks the harbour and the lifeboat. There he was greeted by Michele O ’Dwyer, Chairperson of the Courtmacsherry fundraising Branch, Barry Flynn, lifeboat station co-ordinator, Coxswain Sean O’Farrell, Lifeboat Mechanic Stuart Russell and Deputy Launching Authority Diarmuid Mahony.  They met with the Courtmacsherry RNLI volunteers, station management and former Coxswain and bronze medal awardee Dan O ‘Dwyer before viewing the lifeboat exhibition in the station and signing the visitor’s book.
 
The Presidential couple viewed documents and photographs from the sinking of the Lusitania when the Courtmacsherry lifeboat launched with the crew rowing for over three hours in a desperate bid to reach survivors from the torpedoed vessel off the Old Head of Kinsale, Co Cork. They also learned of the lifeboats role in the search and rescue operation following the Fastnet Race tragedy of 1979 where fifteen sailors lost their lives. The Courtmacsherry lifeboat was among of group of RNLI lifeboats which spent 75 hours at sea in 60 knot winds.

Welcoming the President to Courtmacsherry, Courtmachserry RNLI Fundraising Chairperson Michele O’Dwyer said, “We could not have a more distinguished guest.  This is a historic day for our village.  Courmachserry lifeboat station has a long and distinguished history, being one of the first established stations in 1825.  It is my privilege on behalf of Courtmacsherry lifeboat station and the surrounding area of Barryroe to formally welcome the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina to Courtmacsherry.

The President then spoke to the crowds gathered in the sunshine and paid tribute to the lifeboat volunteers and the community, “The Courtmacsherry lifeboat service has a long and proud history that stretches back almost two hundred years. There is something extraordinary about both the great promise and the great threat of the sea but even more so by the lives of those who have to deal with it and those in particular who have to use their skill and patience and every characteristic of the human spirit to actually address the position of those who are in difficulties.

Courtmacsherry has had a relationship with the sea that has always called forth the greatest examples of heroism and courage but also practicality and preparation to be able to be of assistance. To be of assistance you have to have so many different characteristics.

I think that today in Ireland we must always look and take example and strength from those who give us the greatest examples.  I think it is uplifting that in this place that demonstrates so strongly what community means, a lifeboat is here and the community stands behind that lifeboat.”

The Courtmacsherry exhibition had a strong emphasis on the lifeboat and its crew with most families in the village having had loved ones serving as volunteer lifeboat crew since 1825. To mark the occasion of the visit of the President and Mrs Higgins, two presentations were made.  The first was a piece of sculpture which was presented to President Higgins by volunteer lifeboat crewmember Gearóid O’Donovan, whose grandfather Jack was also a lifeboat volunteer. The piece was called ´circle of friends` and was made by local woman Gillian Noonan.  It was to represent the gathering of people in Courtmacsherry for this special occasion and was presented on a wooden plinth turned from local wood by Barry Flynn.  Courtmacsherry RNLI fundraiser Martha Drake also presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs Higgins.

Hundreds of people lined the street in the good weather and the President and Mrs Higgins stayed behind to meet with many of the well-wishers. 

Ends

Note for editors:
Photos are available please credit Provision/Mike MacSweeney
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager on 087 1254 124 or 01 8900 460 email Niamh_Stephenson@rnli.org.uk or Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Tel: 087 6483547 or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789
For press queries regarding President Higgins please contact Áras an Uachtaráin Press Office Tel: 01-617 1000

Page Content:

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) will be celebrating its attendance at the 40th Southampton Boat Show (12 – 21 September 2008) with its biggest ever presence at the show. The charity that saves lives at sea will, for the first time, host a series of seminars for leisure boaters in partnership with the RYA, Sea Start and Helly Hansen; as well as giving show visitors the chance to experience the RNLI’s virtual lifeboat training experience on stand B73, a free lifejacket clinic on stand C9 and the opportunity to get on board an RNLI all-weather lifeboat in the marina (berth 61).

The four RNLI seminars will offer leisure boaters a 'bite-sized' twenty minute look at subjects ranging from lifejackets and taking a boat on a cross-channel passage to diesel engines and also a light-hearted look at stylish survival at sea - the latest fashion and clothing technologies for men and women on the water.

The RNLI seminars will be supported by the Royal Yachting Association, Sea Start and Helly Hansen who have each put forward expert presenters to talk on the respective subjects of boating abroad (RYA), diesel engine maintenance (Sea Start) and stylish survival at sea (Helly Hansen).

RNLI sea safety volunteers will present the seminar on lifejackets, a subject that is a major focus for RNLI sea safety as it works to encourage more leisure boaters to automatically put a lifejacket on when they go to sea and then decide whether they should take it off. This stance forms the key element of the RNLI’s ‘Useless unless worn’ lifejacket awareness campaign.

Commenting on the new seminar series RNLI Marketing Manager, Richard Devereux says:

‘The RNLI seminar series has been created for those who enjoy having serious fun on the water and is open to all who attend the Southampton Boat Show. The twenty-minute seminars will provide a practical look at subjects ranging from lifejackets to ladies nautical fashion. We’re delighted to be working in partnership with the RYA, Sea Start and Helly Hansen and thank them for their time and commitment to our first seminar series.’

All are welcome to attend the RNLI Sea Safety Seminars but there are limited places, however each seminar topic will run twice a day at the Holiday Inn Lounge, Southampton Boat Show at the following times every day of the show:

11am - 11:20am & 2:20pm - 2:40pm – Lifejackets: sink or swim?
What to buy, how to fit and how to maintain

11:40am - 12pm & 3:00pm - 3:20pm – Adventuring abroad?
How to plan, what you need and what to take – in partnership with the RYA

12:20pm - 12:40pm & 3:40pm - 4:00pm – Suck, squeeze, bang, blow...
How to maintain your diesel engine, how to avoid breakdowns and what spares to take with you – in partnership with Sea Start

1pm - 1:20pm & 4:20pm - 4:40pm – One for the ladies....
Stylish survival at sea!

RNLI sea safety volunteers will be on stand C9 throughout the course of the show to provide a range of free sea safety advice, answer any queries or questions from the RNLI seminars and FREE lifejacket clinics will be available by popular demand. An RNLI Atlantic 75 in-shore lifeboat will feature on stand C9 and there will be the opportunity to talk to volunteer lifeboat crew about their lifesaving roles at the 24/7 marine search and rescue charity.

The RNLI membership team will also be on hand on stand C9 to answer queries from any existing supporters and to sign up new ones. Joining the RNLI costs from just over £5 per month and provides a range of features to help keep you safe on the water. Special incentives are provided for those signing up at the show.

The RNLI’s main stand (B73) will be located in the heart of the chandlery zone for the first time this year and, as well as the chance to experience the RNLI’s virtual lifeboat training experience the RNLI education team will be on hand daily to help inspire the next generation of RNLI supporters and volunteers. If it’s retail therapy you’re after then there will be plenty of RNLI goodies, perfect presents for friends and family – including Christmas cards for those organised shoppers!

Experience RNLI all-weather and inshore lifeboats afloat by visiting berth 61 in the Hydropool Marina.

Notes to editors
The RNLI at Southampton Boat Show 2008:

• Holiday Inn – The four RNLI Hosted Seminars each run twice daily throughout the show from 11am – 16:40 at the Holiday Inn.
• Stand B73 – As a charity, the RNLI relies on your support to provide a 24/7 marine search and rescue service that saves lives at sea. Find out more about the work of our volunteer lifeboat crews and come on board the new RNLI Lifeboat Training Experience and witness a rescue from the eyes of a volunteer crew member. Your experience will help support the RNLI’s ‘Train One, Save Many’ campaign to fund training for our volunteer lifeboat crew.
• Stand C9 – RNLI sea safety volunteers will be on hand to provide a range of free sea safety advice including: lifejacket clinics – by popular demand throughout the day.
• Experience RNLI lifeboats on the water by visiting berth 61 – Atlantic 85 inshore and an all-weather lifeboat

RNLI media contacts For more information please telephone Katie Wilton, RNLI Public Relations Officer on 01202 336789 or kwilton@rnli.org.uk / pressoffice@rnli.org.uk

RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press

Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 100 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Page Content:

Ocean Safety – specialists in the supply and service of marine safety equipment – announced their support for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution by joining the charity’s Ambassador Scheme at the opening day of Southampton Boat Show (Friday 12 September).

The RNLI’s Ambassador Scheme was set-up in 2006 to promote RNLI Offshore membership for recreational sea users and to enhance the marine search and rescue charity’s links within the marine industry.

As an RNLI Ambassador Ocean Safety will be offering a year’s complimentary RNLI membership with the purchase of a top end product, such as an Ocean ISO liferaft, ACR EPIRB or a Jonbuoy Recovery Module. To further encourage the purchase of appropriate man overboard and lifesaving equipment, voucher schemes will be run in the RNLI Offshore magazine throughout the year, offering product promotions, combined with vital advice for sea users.

Commenting on their new partnership with the RNLI, Charlie Mill of Ocean Safety says:

‘We are a long time and active supporter of the great work, which the RNLI carry out in terms of education, as well as their crucial role in saving lives at sea. Our respect for the volunteer crews around the coast on call on a daily basis, often in the most atrocious weather, is enormous. We welcome this opportunity to work with the RNLI to provide greater awareness of the importance of using the appropriate safety products for each type and area of water use.’

David Brann, RNLI Fundraising and Communication Director says:

We welcome Ocean Safety to the RNLI’s Ambassador Scheme. As a charity the RNLI depends on voluntary contributions and legacies for its income, so support from both industry and the public through RNLI membership is absolutely crucial. I am grateful to Ocean Safety for joining the growing collection of companies that are demonstrating their appreciation of the life-saving work of our volunteer crews and the need for safety at sea in this practical way.

The RNLI’s membership is designed for all recreational sea users, from kayakers, windsurfers and jet skiers to sailors and motor boaters. It provides a range of benefits, including: a CD-ROM containing interactive educational programmes on safety at sea, the opportunity for an RNLI SEA Check, the RYA’s Diesel Engine Maintenance DVD, complimentary copies of the RNLI’s Offshore and Lifeboat magazines and of course access to Ambassador Scheme special promotions.

Notes to editors
The RNLI at Southampton Boat Show 2008:
· Holiday Inn – The four RNLI Hosted Seminars each run twice daily throughout the show from 11am – 16:40 at the Holiday Inn.
· Stand B73 – As a charity, the RNLI relies on your support to provide a 24/7 marine search and rescue service that saves lives at sea. Find out more about the work of our volunteer lifeboat crews and come on board the new RNLI Lifeboat Training Experience and witness a rescue from the eyes of a volunteer crew member. Your experience will help support the RNLI’s ‘Train One, Save Many’ campaign to fund training for our volunteer lifeboat crew.
· Stand C9 – RNLI sea safety volunteers will be on hand to provide a range of free sea safety advice including: lifejacket clinics – by popular demand throughout the day.
· Experience RNLI lifeboats on the water by visiting berth 61 – Atlantic 85 inshore and an all-weather lifeboat

Ocean Safety - specialists in the supply and service of marine safety equipment. For more information go to: www.oceansafety.com

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Katie Wilton, RNLI Public Relations Officer on 01202 336789 / 07899 076 224 or kwilton@rnli.org.uk / pressoffice@rnli.org.uk

RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press

Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 100 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

 

Page Content: Doctor McKee first joined Eastbourne lifeboats in 1976 a few years after taking up his new medical practice in Hampden Park, and joined the crew of the slipway launched Watson class ‘Charles Dibdin’. Since then he has served on four different classes of lifeboat leading up to the current hi-tech vessel ‘Diamond Jubilee’ and has received both silver and gold awards from the RNLI to mark his loyalty and dedication. He has been instrumental in creating dedicated medical exercises and first aid procedures for the RNLI which now forms the basis of all casualty care training for lifeboat crewmen throughout the UK and Ireland.  
 
The older class boats did not have the crew comforts of modern lifeboats and Colin has many tales of cold wet nights when casualty vessels were towed to Newhaven before Sovereign Harbour was built, a journey which sometimes took as long as eight hours to complete. One thing Colin says he definitely will not miss is climbing a rope ladder in rolling seas to board a freighter in order to attend an injured crewman. One particularly harrowing experience back in the 1990’s was when the lifeboat was called to the Indian vessel ‘Vishva Parage’ to treat a sick crewman who was suffering from Malaria. The ship was running without cargo so she was sitting particularly high in the water, due to the shape of the hull the first few feet of ladder was swinging in mid air. Colin decided the casualty should be transferred to hospital via the lifeboat and was speechless for the first time in many years when the freighter lowered a gangplank for their crewman who casually walked down and stepped aboard the lifeboat, a facility that Colin noted with some dismay hadn’t been offered to him when he first boarded the vessel risking life and limb, to say nothing of his dignity!

Colin says his fondest memories will be of the fantastic crews he has served with over the years and looks forward to continuing his work for Eastbourne lifeboats in his role as Chairman of the Lifeboat Management Group.

Picture shows Dr McKee surrounded by some of the crew receiving his framed letter of thanks from the RNLI Chief Executive Paul Bossier presented at Sunday’s crew meeting by Paul Metcalfe, Operations Manager of Eastbourne lifeboats.

Page Content: On Thursday the ILB was launched at 12.08 after a member of the public observed what they thought was a small yacht with nobody on board drifting west passed Eastbourne pier. The lifeboat was soon alongside the suspect vessel only to find the skipper in the cockpit blissfully unaware that he was the subject of a lifeboat launch. With all well the volunteer crew returned to station.

On Saturday, following several 999 calls to Dover Coastguard, the ILB was launched at 15.57 to assist two windsurfers who appeared to be in difficulties in Pevensey Bay. When on scene the volunteer crew found no casualties but observed two windsurfers on the beach. Having thoroughly checked the area with nothing found the crew was stood down and returned to station.

On Sunday morning at 08.45 the ILB was launched to assist four anglers in their small fishing boat which had suffered engine failure and was drifting helplessly. With no working VHF radio on board the anglers had contacted Dover Coastguard via mobile phone. The vessel was taken under tow by the ILB and returned to the beach near the local angling club where safety advice was offered by the volunteer crew.

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The first incident, at 6.12pm, involved the launch of the inshore lifeboat, the Atlantic 75 class Bob Turnbull, and followed a report of two kite surfers in difficulty in nearby Pegwell Bay. On arrival at the scene the only sign of kite surfers was on the shore and after the RNLI volunteers had confirmed that they were safe and in good health the lifeboat returned to the boathouse, the call being regarded as a false alarm with good intent.

The second launch of the evening was at 8.17pm when the RNLI station’s all weather lifeboat, the Trent class Esme Anderson, was launched to assist a 15m. yacht which had suffered a complete electrical failure some 7.5 miles east of Ramsgate. On arrival at the scene the lifeboat crew took the yacht in tow and brought it and its crew safely into Ramsgate Harbour.   

RNLI media contacts

• John Ray, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (Ramsgate Lifeboat)
07759 480825 / john.g.ray@talk21.com
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / tim_ash@rnli.org.uk
• Philly Byrde, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)
0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 / philly_byrde@rnli.org.uk
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

Page Content: The first was to a vessel aground on the Cockle Bank at Port Glasgow which had two persons on board; although no request for assistance had been received from the crew of the grounded vessel, the Coastguard wished to confirm that they were ok.  As the grounded vessel, a white hulled cabin cruiser, was several hundred metres outside the navigation channel, and due to the state of the tide, two lifeboat crew members had to wade across the sandbanks towards the grounded cruiser. Once it was established that the two men on board did not require any assistance, the lifeboat crew members returned to the lifeboat.

The lifeboat then attended the second incident, a tug reported to be sinking at the mouth of Loch Goil. The tug was low in the water and clearly taking in water.  It was unmanned and on a mooring.  As the lifeboat crew was not able to gain access to the locked vessel they were unable to investigate the cause of the problem or take any action.  It was therefore agreed that the lifeboat would return to base and that a commercial salvage operation would be undertaken later.

At 2206 hours the same day the Lifeboat was again launched after Belfast Coastguard received a report from a resident of Rhu village that there was a fire on board a yacht in Rhu Bay. Despite a thorough search of the area, during which a number of illumination flares were fired, nothing untoward was found. The conclusion was that this was a false alarm with good intent. The lifeboat returned to base and was reported ready for service again at 2300 hours.

Page Content: Daffodils were in plentiful supply as visitors strolled in the grounds of Foulis Castle, which overlooks the Cromarty Firth.  

RNLI mascot, Stormy Stan, welcomed guests and joined visitors at the range of stalls and attractions, needing to duck his head entering the marquee and the old stone-floored kitchen in the castle!   

Afternoon tea was served in two separate venues within the castle itself, in the old kitchen and in the castle’s splendid dining room. Most notably, Mrs Munro made her snooker table available to display the vast array of home baking for sale.   

Attractions in the grounds included a children’s treasure hunt, face painting, a display of birds of prey, sideshow stalls, and a range of craft stalls. During the afternoon, Highland Dog Agility provided a very entertaining dog agility display, and visitors inside the castle and out were entertained by live music from Corralach and the Kiltearn Fiddlers.  

Many folk made their way home with bunches of daffodils from the castle lawns, with the full approval of Mrs Munro.  

Chairman of the RNLI Easter Ross branch, also full time lifeboat mechanic, Kevin Dent, was delighted that this event gave an enjoyable afternoon to so many visitors and was able to announce later that the event had raised in excess of £3100 for RNLI funds

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Leverburgh is an all-weather lifeboat station with a Mersey class lifeboat situated on the Sound of Harris and within its first year of operation, as a trial station, it had 17 shouts.

Now the station has been upgraded to a permanent facility and a dedication service was held on Leverburgh Pier to mark the occasion. This is Scotland’s 46th station.

Leverburgh is a small island community but the villagers were out in force, joined by  the children of Leverburgh and Shelibost Schools who took part in the festivities. The service was conducted by the lifeboat station’s chaplain, Rev. Ruairidh MacLean.

The guests included the RNLI’s chairman, Admiral Lord Boyce, and the RNLI’s Operations Director, Michael Vlasto.

Leverburgh RNLI Chairman, Neil Campbell, commented, ‘It is both an honour and a privilege for us all at Leverburgh to welcome two of the RNLI’s most senior members to our station.

‘We are indebted to the RNLI’s Board of Trustees,and the RNLI’s employees for their part in making our aspiration a reality.’

Lord Boyce told the guests, ‘We have made quite a journey to be here, but you have been on a much more challenging one.

‘It’s a journey that began with a request that the RNLI set up a lifeboat station. Many people have played a key part in making that vision a reality and it’s a pleasure to come along, to meet you face to face, and to congratulate you on becoming a permanent station.

‘Although Leverburgh is a new station, I know you are already part of the charity’s family – that big community where, if you are wearing an RNLI logo, you get a cup of tea whatever station you visit.’

He thanked all the volunteers on the crew and those working on other roles at the station, and the fundraisers, for their dedication and hard work.

Michael Vlasto will retire soon as the RNLI’s Operations Director after nearly 40 years with the charity and this was one of his last official functions on the coast.

He said that the case for opening a new station at Leverburgh had been compelling. It bridged a gap in cover between the flanking stations of Stornoway, Portree and Barra and the station was required to be on standby to assist an increase in marine traffic in hazardous waters.

‘But lifeboat stations don’t just get set up by magic – we can only meet the need if the people are in place.

‘Everyone in Leverburgh has shown a can-do attitude with the community working together, volunteers being recruited and people meeting the challengers of an initially temporary arrangement, and getting to grips with a trusty Mersey class boat,’ said Mr Vlasto.

The lifeboat is The Royal Thames. It costs on average £4,100 a week to run an RNLI all-weather lifeboat station.

Picture Caption: RNLI Operations Director Michael Vlasto, left, and the RNLI Chairman Admiral Lord Boyce with some of the Leverburgh crew.  Pic by Richard Smith

RNLI Media Contacts: Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager for Scotland, 07786 668903. Email Richard_Smith2@rnli.org.uk