Gareth Horner, RNLI lifeboat operations
manager for Newquay reflects on 2007, a busy and eventful year.
The year started with the news that Helmsman
Kevin Gee and Mr Peter Bragg were to receive Letters of Thanks from the
Chief Executive of the RNLI for a service to a kayaker the previous year.
Unconfirmed figures indicate that Newquay’s
volunteer lifeboat crews have been required seventy-eight times so far in
2007. We did not have long to wait for the first shout of the year. On 7th
January, we were diverted from an exercise to investigate reports of someone
in the sea waving for help. Arriving on scene, the crew discovered a
somewhat forlorn and lop-sided Christmas tree rolling in the heavy swell. A
week later we went the aid of a catamaran. The next shout was to assist an
Environmental Health Officer to recover the carcass of a cow that fallen
from a cliff. The creature had washed into an otherwise inaccessible cove
and was considered a hazard to public health. It was also deemed a hazard
to navigation as it was feared it would drift into the entrance of the
harbour.
The launch of both the Atlantic 75 and
D-Class lifeboats on a freezing February evening resulted in the dramatic
rescue of a woman from her car which had driven off the road and into the
sea near the Huers’ Hut.
At the beginning of the season, the new
intake of RNLI lifeguards were welcomed to the lifeboat station to meet the
lifeboat crew and learn about the assets available. It proved to be a very
successful day with much being learned from both parties.
Those requiring assistance from Newquay’s
RNLI lifeboats have been many and varied and include surfers, body-boarders,
kite-boarders, swimmers, dogs, persons cut off by the tide, missing persons,
fishing vessels, inflatable dinghies, speedboats and a cabin cruiser lost in
fog. On one occasion the Atlantic class lifeboat was launched in response
to a Mayday call on a VHF distress frequency. This was on a rough night and
the crew was operating at considerable risk to themselves and the lifeboat
which sustained minor damage. After a thorough search by Newquay and
Padstow lifeboats, nothing was found and it would appear that this was a
cruel hoax. Another unusual service was the launch of both lifeboats to
search for the occupants of a tent that had been blown over the cliff in the
Gazzle.
A search for two persons missing from Mawgan
Porth Beach during the summer resulted in one of longest running services in
the history of Newquay’s inshore lifeboats. The Atlantic 75 lifeboat
launched at 16:00 on the 2nd July and remained on scene until being diverted
to another incident at 01:47 on the morning of the 3rd, finally returning
and being ready for service again at 03:58 almost twelve hours after first
launching. This service involved both Newquay lifeboats, Padstow
all-weather lifeboat, a search & rescue helicopter from 771 Squadron RNAS
Culdrose, RNLI Lifeguards, Coastguards and police. The D-Class did a
sterling job in dropping RNLI Lifeguards near to the entrance of the cave to
assist the Navy winch-man in evacuating one of the casualties. Due to
adverse conditions, this service involved several crew changes but had a
successful outcome.
We have undertaken several services working
alongside RNLI Lifeguards and it is good to see that the RNLI is providing a
seamless service from shore to sea. This a partnership that can only lead
to safer use of the sea by all.
Despite poor weather this summer it remained
fine for much of Lifeboat Day. A very successful day was largely due to the
hard work of our new Events Manager Geoff Brown. Unfortunately, a series of
incidents meant that the station Atlantic 75 lifeboat, Phyllis, had to be
withdrawn from service due to damage sustained on service the preceding
evening and the search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was diverted
to another rescue resulting in the cancellation of the air sea rescue
demonstration. Despite this, a great show was put on by the Padstow Tamar
class lifeboat, Spirit of Padstow, and Newquay’s D-Class lifeboat, Valerie
Wilson. Our colleagues the RNLI Lifeguards also gave a display of their
skills.
October saw the arrival of our new Atlantic
85 Class rigid-inflatable lifeboat B-821, Gladys Mildred. She is slightly
longer and beamier that her predecessor and is equipped with radar and VHF
radio-direction finding sets in addition to the GPS system that we had
previously. She also has seating for a fourth crew member if required.
Powered by two 1.7ltr four-stroke petrol engines, she is slightly faster
than the Atlantic 75 and has the advantage of not requiring the warm-up time
of a two-stroke. The crew are delighted with her and we hope to hold the
naming ceremony in late April 2008.
Two crew members have retired this year.
Steve Ward has retired after five years first as tractor driver and then as
crew. Ed Burt has retired after almost twenty-three years, first as crew
and finally as helmsman. Deputy Launching Authority John Bawden has just
retired after a few weeks short of forty years with Newquay RNLI. He became
a crew member in January 1968 and was later Honorary Secretary (now known as
Lifeboat Operations Manager) and more recently Deputy Launching Authority I
would like, on behalf of all at Newquay RNLI, to offer them all our sincere
thanks for all they have done in their time with us and to wish them a happy
retirement finally released from the tie of their pagers.
In 2007 we have welcomed Mike “Sharkbait”
Martin, Daniel Gilbert and Brian Adamson as probationary crew members and
wish them a satisfying and fulfilling time carrying out their many
obligations. We also welcome Geoff Brown as Deputy Launching Authority who
has just joined us.
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank all the volunteer lifeboat crew, shore helpers and Station Officials
who give freely of their time to ensure that the lifeboats are manned and
ready for service every day and night of the year. Also our volunteer
fundraisers who have been hard at work throughout the year working in order
to allow us to save lives at sea. They do a great job too. Thanks too to
the people of Newquay who support us not just financially but also to those
employers who allow crew members to leave their work at the call of the
pager to man the lifeboats. Last, but by no means least, I thank our wives
and girlfriends who put up with so much inconvenience – the sudden
disappearances, the ruined meals and so much more. Thank you all.
Wishing you all a
prosperous and happy New Year.
Gareth Horner, Lifeboat
Operations Manager Newquay.
