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Supermarket boost for lifejacket fund
An Axminster supermarket lived up to its slogan with a little extra funding for the lifejacket appeal by RNLI volunteers in Lyme Regis.
The town’s branch of Tesco delivered a cheque for £200 to the lifeboat station today (Feb 3rd).
The donation will go towards the purchase of new lifejackets for the crew of the Lyme Regis lifeboat.
The cheque was presented to crew member Neville Causley, who organised the RNLI SOS appeal in Lyme Regis, by Kath Rabjohns, Tesco’s Community Champion at Axminster and the store manager Claire Henderson.
Rotarians boost RNLI lifejacket fund
Rotarians in Lyme Regis have boosted the RNLI’s lifejacket appeal by £700, half the donations received during the Lyme Lunge on New Year’s Day. The Rotary Club has organised The Lunge – when dozens of brave souls dip at least their toes in the sea – for the past four years.
This year the Rotarians gave half the £1,400 to Lyme Regis RNLI’s SOS appeal and the other half to Shelter Box. President-elect of the Rotary Club Peter Mills presented a cheque to SOS Day organiser and volunteer crew member Neville Causley at Lyme Regis lifeboat station.
Another SOS Day event, a highly successful bingo evening, raised just over £800.
Lyme Regis RNLI volunteers were given a target of £3,500 to raise to purchase new lifejackets.
Lifeboat and coastguards in rescue of man thrown overboard
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched yesterday (Friday) after a fishing boat suffered engine trouble and a man was thrown overboard in heavy surf.
The five metre vessel, Kelvin, got into difficulties off West Bexington and the lifeboat was launched at 3pm.
When the lifeboat arrived on scene the man was out of the water and being assisted by coastguards. An ambulance crew treated the man who was suffering from the cold.
A lifeboat crew member swam ashore to assess the situation, and it was decided to use the coastguard vehicle to winch the fishing boat ashore.
The lifeboat could not get closer to the shore because of the surf, and the beach was a steep shingle bank.
The lifeboat returned to Lyme Regis after an operation lasting two and a half hours.
Lifeboat in first ‘shout’ of New Year
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat answered its first ‘shout’ of the New Year today (Monday Jan 16th). The fishing boat Little Shrub, with one man aboard, was crippled when a mooring rope became tangled with its propeller in choppy seas just outside the
harbour. Lifeboat crewmen James Rice and Martin Croad spent some 20 minutes in the water trying to free the propeller.
The rope was finally untangled, and helmsman James Rice said: ”There is no doubt that the fishing boat was in danger of sinking if the mooring rope had not been released.” The lifeboat was launched at 3pm and had towed the fishing boat to the safety of the
harbour by 3. 45.
Eyes down for new lifejackets on RNLI SoS Day
Lifeboat crew members in Lyme Regis will be calling out the bingo numbers later this month as they try to raise £3,500 for new lifejackets.
January 27th is the RNLI’s annual SoS Day and this year in the south west all 35 lifeboat stations have been given a target to raise funds for their own new equipment.
In Lyme Regis the target is £3,500 to buy lifejackets costing £350 each.
Lifeboat crew member and licensee of the Hunters Lodge Inn, Raymonds Hill, Neville Causley, will be the bingo caller at the Woodmead Halls on the evening of January 27.
“We are hoping for plenty of great prizes and everyone is welcome,” said Neville.
Anyone who would like to donate a prize can deliver it to Neville’s pub or the RNLI shop at the harbour.
The total needed for lifejackets throughout the south west is £220,000.
Adrian Carey, RNLI Divisional Inspector for the south west, said: ”We ask our volunteers to put themselves in difficult and dangerous situations and it is only right that we provide them with the best equipment.”
The old lifejackets have reached the end of their operational life but they will be recycled to make use of the steel and brass components and the fabric.
Lyme Regis RNLI is using the SoS acronym Support Our Swimmers for the fund raising event.
Other supporters of the lifeboat charity include St Michael’s School, Lyme Regis. Two lifeboat crewmen Mark Colley and Dave Street will be dropping in to talk to the pupils on January 27th.
Two fund-raisers in Seaton, Zoe Lloyd and Anna Cole are organising an evening at the King’s Arms on February 18th with a raffle and music from the Porter Boys.
And a collection at a sea safety talk at Lyme Regis Sailing Club in February will also go towards the SoS Day fund.
Award for volunteer manager of top lifeboat shop
The volunteer manager of the RNLI’s harbour-side shop in Lyme Regis has been honoured by the charity for the performance of the record-breaking store.
Brian Cursley has been presented with a certificate marking the achievement of the tiny shop in becoming the top totally volunteer-run RNLI shop in the UK.
During the past two years the shop has scored month-on-month sales increases and is now trading at 54percent above 2009 figures.
In that year the shop’s turnover was £100,000 and it was the first of the charity’s stores in the southwest to reach that figure.
Mr Cursley received the certificate of thanks from the RNLI from his assistant manager Mrs Janet Clayton. He said:” I hope my input has been partially responsible for this uplift in sales, but none of it would have been possible without the fantastic support of our dedicated team
of volunteers who have enabled the shop to trade most of the year eight hours a day, seven days a week. I must also thank our loyal customers who consider the life-saving service of the RNLI charity worthy of their support.”
New Year and a new lifeboat for Lyme Regis
Volunteer crew members of the RNLI lifeboat in Lyme Regis have been told their new vessel is about to be built.
News that the crew were to get a new lifeboat was confirmed during this year’s record-breaking Lifeboat Week.
Now they have been told that work to build the lifeboat is about to start at the charity’s Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
The RNLI’s Head of Fleet Operations, Hugh Fogarty, said the new boat should be ready by the end of January with delivery to Lyme Regis a short time after that.
The new boat is a B-class Atlantic 85 and will replace the Atlantic 75, named Pearl of Dorset, which has served the resort since 1997. A name for the new boat has yet to be decided.
Mr Fogarty said:” The new boat is faster – capable of 35 knots – and is fitted with the latest equipment including radar.
“It is also one metre longer with room for four crew members – instead of three on the old boat – and there is more space on deck.”
The new boat, costing around £180,000, is eagerly awaited by the crew.
Mark Colley, a helmsman for six years, said:”We’ll be sorry to see the Pearl of Dorset go, but we are also delighted to be getting a brand new boat.”
For a short time, Lyme Regis will have two lifeboats while the crew train in the use of the new vessel, officially known as B-857.
Mark Colley added:”We will have to familiarise ourselves with the new boat which will have technology such as radar and GPS.”
Historic lifeboat model will be star attraction for RNLI
A hand-built model of the lifeboat that served Lyme Regis for 17 years from 1915 is to have pride of place as an exhibit in the town’s RNLI lifeboat station.
The Thomas Masterman Hardy, powered only by sails and oars, was 35 feet long and cost £1,623. Her crew saved several lives.
In March 1918 the Thomas Masterman Hardy was launched after a cargo ship was torpedoed two miles off Lyme Regis. Three men drowned, but the lifeboat crew rescued the captain of the cargo ship and four of his crew.
The model, built by Lt. Col. B.M.Hynes, was given to the town’s museum by a Lyme Regis resident, the late Miss Margaret Eyre. It had been on display in the parish church since 1985.
But now the museum and the church have agreed that the model can be handed over to the RNLI on a long-term loan to help mark the 150th anniversary of a lifeboat service in Lyme Regis.
Miss Eyre’s nephew, George from Thorncombe, said:”The Eyre family have always been great supporters of the RNLI and I am delighted the model will be on show at the lifeboat station.”
Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Mananger Grahame Forshaw said:”We are all very pleased and grateful for the loan of this model which will doubtless be of great interest to the many people who visit our lifeboat station.”
Lifeboat launched to dismasted yacht
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched early this morning (Sunday Oct. 30th)when a 22 foot yacht became dismasted in the town’s harbour.
Portland coastguards requested the launch at 5.50a.m.to investigate whether there was anyone on board or the yacht was a danger to other vessels.
The lifeboat and its crew of three waited at the foot of the slipway while shore crew and coastguards inspected the yacht from the harbour wall.
The lifeboat was stood down at 6. 10a.m. when it was clear there was no-one on board and no threat to other vessels.
Kayaker rescued as 7 foot wave strikes
A kayaker who fell overboard when he was struck by a 7 foot wave was rescued by the volunteer crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat on Sunday morning (today).
The lifeboat was returning after a training session when onlookers on the harbour wall waved and shouted after seeing the kayak overturn in rough seas.
Helmsman James Rice and his crew lifted the kayaker, Paul Hills, 52, and his craft aboard the lifeboat and returned them to the safety of the harbour.
Mr. Hills, from Uplyme. said:” I was delighted to see the lifeboat crew. They did a first class job in difficult conditions.”
The lifeboat was also launched on Saturday evening following a report that a person had been seen in the water just outside Lyme Regis harbour.
After a thorough search it was established that the report was a false alarm with good intent and that the sighting was a mooring buoy with a smaller buoy attached.
Lifeboat crew ‘rescue’ two cut off by tide
A Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crewman swam ashore to help two people cut off by the tide to-night (Sunday Oct. 9th). The couple – a man and a woman, both aged 19 –raised the alarm when they were cut off at Sparrowbush Ledge, west of Charton Bay.
The lifeboat, which was launched at 5.30pm., was unable to reach shore because of rocks, so crew member Tim Wadsworth swam ashore and led the couple to safety.
Lyme Regis RNLI crew praised for harbour rescue bid
Volunteer crew members of the RNLI lifeboat at Lyme Regis have been praised for their part in trying to save the young woman who died after her wheelchair fell into the town's harbour.
Six crewmen were among several other rescuers who rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised at 1pm last Friday (Oct. 7th).
The woman, from the West Midlands, was strapped in her electric wheelchair when it fell from the harbour wall into about 3 metres of water.
Lyme Regis volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Grahame Forshaw said: "I would like to express the sympathy of the RNLI to the family and friends of this tragic young lady. Everyone involved in trying to save her did everything humanly possible in extremely difficult conditions. It was an example of first class
teamwork by all the emergency services involved.
As for our crew members, who went into the water in an effort to bring the casualty to the surface, they can all stand proud. They were professional, quick to respond and remained calm at all times."
'Lifeboat crew investigate ‘bobbing white light’
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched last night (Weds) to reports of a ‘white light bobbing about’ in the area of Seven Rock Point west of the resort.
The alarm was raised by a land-based coastguard unit on exercise in the Stonebarrow area, but it turned out to be a false alarm with good intent.
Lifeboat Deputy Launching Authority Garry Gibbs said: “A bass fishing competition was being held with a large number of anglers taking part. The coastguards quite rightly asked us to investigate, and our crew discovered that the light was coming from two men who were fishing off Seven Rock Point.”
Fishing boat four rescued by RNLI crew
A broken down fishing boat with four people aboard became the 29th emergency call this year for the crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat.
The lifeboat was launched at ten to eight last night (Sept 15th) when coastguards received reports of the 20foot fishing boat in trouble three miles east of The Cobb.
The lifeboat crew towed the vessel – with three men and a woman on board – to the safety of West Bay Harbour.
Lifeboat crew rescue midnight ‘swimmer’
A woman, reported to coastguards as walking into the sea at West Bay and ignoring requests to return to shore, was rescued by a
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew in the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday (today).
Volunteer lifeboat crew members found the woman in the dark – swimming and fully clothed – some 60 yards off shore.
The woman, thought to be in her thirties, was taken aboard the lifeboat and returned to West Bay harbour where police and coastguards were waiting to speak to her.
The lifeboat crew, who had launched at 0020, returned to Lyme Regis Harbour at 0105.
Three ‘stranded’ divers rescued as their boat drifts
Three divers, ‘stranded’ when their boat lost power and drifted while they were submerged, were rescued today by the crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat.
Coastguards alerted the volunteer lifeboat crew at 1005 when the dive boat Dinky suffered engine failure over the wreck of the Bay Guitano.
The 4.6metre Dinky had drifted about half a mile to the east when the alarm was raised.
The divers were due to surface 20 minutes after the alarm call.
The lifeboat crew located the divers’ surface marker buoy after a 15 minute search.
All three divers re-surfaced and were taken aboard the lifeboat which then towed Dinky to the safety of Lyme Regis harbour.
The volunteer RNLI crew had been at sea for an hour when the divers and their boat were returned safely to dry land.
Two displays and a speedboat rescue for Lyme Regis volunteer RNLI crew
Date: 07/08/2011
Volunteer crew members of the RNLI lifeboat at Lyme Regis today took part in two public displays and, in between, saved a speedboat which had drifted on to the rocks.
Harbourmaster Grahame Forshaw - who is also the volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager - spotted the broken down, 17 foot speedboat drifting off Black Ven east of Lyme Regis just after the RNLI crew had finished a display as part of Carnival Week in the town.
The speedboat was found on the rocks with no sign of occupants. Coastguards told the lifeboat crew that the the boat's owner was on his way back to the vessel after walking to Charmouth to use a phone to raise the alarm. He told coastguards there had been four men and a ten year old boy on board.
The Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat returned to harbour to collect another crew member so that they could use a salvage pump to empty the waterlogged speedboat.
The semi-submerged speedboat was then towed-with some difficulty by the lifeboat crew-to Lyme Regis harbour.
After checking that all five people originally aboard the speedboat were safe, the RNLI volunteer crew went on to give another display at West Bay along with a lifeboat from Weymouth and the coastguard helicopter.
Lifeboat crew investigate drifting dinghy
Lyme Regis RNLl lifeboat crew were alerted by coastguards this morning (Sunday) to investigate a drifting dinghy west of Charmouth.
After the lifeboat had launched, the dinghy-which was empty- was washed on to the beach where coastguards ashore were waiting.
It was later discovered that the dinghy had slipped its mooring and drifted from Lyme Regis harbour.
Lifeboat rescues three in broken down vessel
A speedboat with engine trouble and three people aboard was taken in tow by Lyme Regis’ RNLI lifeboat this evening (Friday August 5th).
The 17 foot speedboat ran into trouble east of Charmouth. The lifeboat took the broken down vessel under tow before passing the task to the West Bay harbourmaster’s launch.
Meanwhile the lifeboat took two female passengers from the speedboat to West Bay since they reported feeling cold. No medical assistance was needed.
This was the 21st emergency call for the Lyme Regis lifeboat so far this year.
Lifeboat Week plea for more collectors
The husband and wife team who spent all of Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week counting donations have appealed for more volunteer collectors as they start planning for next year’s event.
Gwyneth and Denis Barker spent eight long days – and nights –counting what could well be a record total, and much of the cash was brought to them in buckets by collectors.
“We had 50 collectors,” said Gwyneth, “but we already know that some will not be available next year and we need another twenty helpers.
“All our collectors did a great job. One collected £400 in her bucket during the short period the Red Arrows were performing.
“One man from the Midlands was on holiday but volunteered to carry a bucket and collected £150.”
Gwyneth and Denis have been counting donations for three years.
“But already we need to think about next year and we badly need some extra collectors,” said Gwyneth.
Anyone who would like to help next year is asked to ring 01297 445417.
After one of the most action-packed Lyme Regis Lifeboat Weeks in the history of the event – not to mention the wonderful weather – we would just like to place on record our heartfelt thanks to all those who gave us such tremendous support...support, without which, the week would simply have failed.
There are too many to mention by name, but you know who you are...the loan of the slipway marquee was a huge bonus; the sponsors who contributed to our celebration of the 150th anniversary of lifeboats in Lyme Regis; the generous donors of so many superb items for the celebrity auction; the collectors whose tireless efforts will boost the funds of the RNLI
charity in these difficult times; those who spent hours just counting the proceeds; the many groups who performed in our superb new shelters, or elsewhere in the town, to the delight of our visitors; and the visitors themselves who, once again, were generous in their giving and praised the efforts of the dozens of volunteers who made the Week possible. ‘Thank you’ does not seem adequate, but it is
deeply sincere.
Lyme Regis RNLI Guild and crew.
Lifeboat rescues a Cornish Crabber
A 17 foot Cornish Crabber with engine trouble was assisted to safety yesterday (Tues. August 2nd) by the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat.
The lifeboat was launched at 1718 – just before a scheduled training session for crew – when coastguards reported the Crabber in difficulties between Seaton and Beer.
As the lifeboat prepared for a towing operation the vessel’s engine restarted, but failed again. After being towed for much of the journey the Crabber, with one man aboard, reached the safety of Lyme Regis harbour under its own power.
Lifeguard Sarah runs to the rescue of kayak man
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeguard Sarah Sedcole ran 500 metres and then swam 300metres to help a 58 year old man who had fallen from his kayak off Monmouth Beach.
The incident happened yesterday (Saturday) when the town and beaches were packed with holidaymakers waiting for the start of events, including the bathtub race.
Sarah, 23,a triathlon athlete, ran from the lifeguard station on the main beach and found the man clinging to his kayak.
“I chatted to him – he had a lifejacket – and when the lifeboat arrived he said he was happy to swim with me to the shore while the lifeboat crew collected his kayak. He was fine once we got ashore.”
The RNLI lifeboat was alerted by coastguards at 3-30pm. Two of the crew, Tim Edwards and Ritchie Durrant took part in the bathtub race just an hour after returning from the incident to the station.
The lifeboat crew came 5th out of a record 20 entries in the bathtub race.
Lifeboat launched to swimmer ‘in trouble’
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched today – the fourth day of Lifeboat Week- when a swimmer was reported to be in difficulties off Charmouth beach.
The swimmer, a 40 year old Londoner on holiday, was more than a mile off shore when emergency calls were made by people who thought he was in trouble.
The lifeboat, launched at 1458, made contact with the swimmer who said he was not in difficulties but accepted the opportunity of a ‘lift’ aboard the Pearl of Dorset which took him close to the beach.
Weymouth lifeboats refloat grounded yacht
On a fresh day in Portland Harbour, Weymouth lifeboats freed a grounded yacht and brought her and her crew to safety.
Watch RNLI Video
Lifeboat crewman ‘slave for a day’ at celebrity auction
A young lifeboat volunteer will be offered as ‘slave for a day’ when Lyme Regis RNLI stage a celebrity auction during Lifeboat Week.
Nineteen year old Ritchie Durrant will take on household chores, do the shopping, gardening, or any other reasonable request for the highest bidder during the auction on July 28th.
At the age of 17 Ritchie was the youngest lifeboat crew member in the UK.
Now he is studying for a degree in sports therapy and plans to run the London Marathon next year in aid of the lifeboat charity.
The auction will be hosted by Paul Atterbury, of the Antiques Roadshow in a marquee on the harbour slipway.
Another novel item for auction is being offered by Danny and Crystal, two rescue ponies who live in the Membury area near Axminster.
Four children aged 4 to 7 and weighing up to 25kg each can spend a Saturday morning with the ponies, groom them, put on their saddles and then go for a supervised ride in the country.
There are many other lots for auction including a £200 voucher from Brittany ferries, top quality glassware, works by local artists and a self catering holiday.
The auction starts at 10.30am on July 28th, and payment for bids will be by cheque or cash only.
Lifeboat Week plans revealed...surprises and fun for all
The full programme for Lyme Regis and Charmouth Lifeboat Week has just been published...and, once again, it’s a week packed with surprises and events for all the family.
The week – running from Saturday, July 23rd to Sunday 31st – gets off to a breathtaking start with the Red Arrows arriving at 12noon on the 23rd. Later, at 4pm, top chef Mark Hix cooks crab on the harbour slipway.
On Sunday 24th there’s an open air service on Marine Parade.
Other major events during the week include the Royal Navy Black Cats helicopter display team on Wednesday, and the RAF Falcons parachute team on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, the tug ‘o war battle across the harbour entrance between the lifeboat crew and the coastguards. The losers get rather wet !
On Saturday, July 30th it’s the bathtub race, and an amazing event called The Red Bull Harbour Reach in which wakeboarders jump the harbour wall.
This is only a brief idea of what’s in store during the week...full details of all events are in the official programme now on sale throughout the area, price £1-50p.
Mayday, Mayday – call goes out for lifeboat crew to join in 150th anniversary
The crew of the RNLI lifeboat in Lyme Regis sent out their own Mayday call this week – to trace former crew members for a special reunion.
The plan is to invite as many ex-RNLI volunteers as possible to join in the celebrations of 150 years of a lifeboat service in the town. After much research organisers of the event have traced the names of more than a hundred people who served either as sea – going or shore
crew. Some have sadly passed on but it is hoped to invite up to 70 when the 150th anniversary is officially recognised during Lifeboat Week on July 28th.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Grahame Forshaw said:” We are very keen to mark the anniversary properly and to invite everyone who helped us reach this milestone. “Invitations will be sent to as many people as possible but addresses may have changed so we are asking anyone interested
in attending on July 28th to get in touch.” The numbers to ring to ensure an invitation are 07769655362 or 07974268504.
The anniversary event will be hosted in a marquee on the slipway by Michael Vlasto, Operations Director of the RNLI, who will present the Lyme Regis crew with a framed vellum.
Four members of the crew in 1979 will have plenty of reason to recall their service with the Lyme Regis lifeboat. Helmsman John Hodder and his crew Paul Wason, Graham Turner and Colin Jones – who is still a volunteer – rescued four people from the yacht White Kitten in storm force
conditions and were all recognised for their courage.
Lifeboat called to sailor’s capsized dinghy
A sailor whose dinghy capsized sparked the launch of Lyme Regis’ RNLI lifeboat today May 29th ( Sunday morning). The dinghy capsized in strong winds and rough seas some 200 metres off Eype Mouth.
The lifeboat was launched at 1042 and was on scene at 1055 by which time the man and the dinghy had been blown towards the shore by a Force 5 south, southwesterly wind. The coastguard helicopter, which was on a training flight at the time, also arrived on scene but the man made
his way safely ashore.
The dinghy was later recovered by a coastguard shore team. The lifeboat arrived back on station at 1123.
Antiques Roadshow star to host Lifeboat Week auction
One of the most enthralling days of Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week promises to be Thursday, July 28th.
For the first time, BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Paul Atterbury will host a top-class auction starting at 10.30a.m.
And also for the first time a marquee, erected on the harbour slipway, will be used for the auction and other events during the week.
Paul, who lives in Dorset, has agreed to wield the gavel and said: ”I was delighted to accept the invitation to Lifeboat Week and look forward to auctioning some first class items in aid of the RNLI.”
Paul, who has appeared in more than one hundred editions of the Antiques Roadshow, is also known for travel writing and books on railways and canals.
Organisers of the auction have already received offers of items for sale including paintings by local artists and a free holiday.
Anyone who would like to contribute to the auction is asked to ring 07974 268504 or 07769 655362 or to hand in items at the RNLI shop on the Cobb.
The auction is followed at 12noon by the RAF Falcons parachute team and a presentation to mark 150 years of a lifeboat service in Lyme Regis at 2pm in the slipway marquee. Later, there’s a gig race, a swimming race and tug ‘o war across the harbour mouth involving lifeboat crew and coastguards.
Blessing the boats is a double celebration
With the town celebrating its maritime heritage throughout the year, and the RNLI marking 150 years of a lifeboat service in Lyme Regis, Sunday May 29th has a special significance.
The annual Blessing of the Boats service is being held at the lifeboat station on the Cobb at 3pm.
Everyone is welcome to the inter-denominational service which has become a Lyme Regis tradition for many years.
The town band will provide music for the hymns, and the service will be attended by local clergy, civic leaders and, of course, the lifeboat crew, fishermen and all boat users as well as residents and visitors.
The service ends with the laying wreaths at sea by the lifeboat crew. Top chef Mark Hix launches crab recipe contest as Lifeboat Week highlight
Lyme Regis’ renowned chef Mark Hix is giving his full backing to this year’s Lifeboat Week....and issuing a challenge to aspiring cooks.
Mark, whose restaurant overlooks the town’s harbour, is organising a competition to produce the most inspiring crab recipes. “Seasonal crab provides a wonderful opportunity to be creative,” said Mark, “and I hope to encourage entrants to produce adventurous recipes.” Entries in the first instance
should be by e-mail and recipes should be sent to jharris@hixfoodetc.co.uk.
The closing date is July 15th.
Mark will then choose the best recipes and ask entrants to produce the dish for final judging at his restaurant at 3.30pm on Friday July 29th. Prize for the winner will be dinner for two and a signed cook book.
“It should be delicious fun,” said Mark, “and with any luck I will make the presentation to the winner – in the presence of the mayor – on my new restaurant terrace.”
Mark is also planning a crab cooking demonstration on the harbour slipway at 4pm on July 23rd.
Lifeboat rescues ketch in eighth ‘shout’ in ten days
 Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat answered its eighth emergency call in ten days today (April 26th).
Coastguards asked the volunteer crew to assist a ten metre ketch with engine trouble 14 miles south of Lyme Regis.
The ketch, Sanuk, with one man aboard, suffered intermittent engine failure and was towed by the lifeboat to the safety of Lyme Regis harbour.
One lifeboat crewman boarded the ketch- which was en-route from Brixham to Poole -during the tow. The lifeboat was launched at 1402 and was at sea for three hours.
Lifeboat launched fourth time in five days
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched for the fourth time in five days on Easter Monday to join the search for a man reported missing.
Coastguards requested a coastal search from Seven Point Rock westwards to Axmouth Harbour.
The search was conducted in conjunction with Lyme Regis and Beer coastguards ashore.
Two lifeboat crew members also joined the search on land. A coastguard helicopter was also involved.
The lifeboat, which had launched at 1219 was stood down at 1410, by which time the man had not been traced.
Easter Sunday rescue for fishing boat
Two men aboard a broken down commercial fishing vessel were rescued by the crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat on Easter Sunday.
The fishing boat, Harvest Queen, developed engine failure nearly three miles south-west of West Bay harbour and was at anchor when the lifeboat arrived.
The engine was restarted as the lifeboat stood by, but failed again.
Harvest Queen was then towed to safety in West Bay harbour.
The lifeboat, Pearl of Dorset, was launched at 0855 and returned to her base in Lyme Regis at 1015.
How Rose, Evie and Max chose the RNLI as their charity
It was Gran’s idea for the children to raise money for a charity during the school holidays. To help them stay out of mischief.
But it was twins Rose and Evie Trafford,8,who decided on the RNLI after a visit to buy novelty sweets at the lifeboat shop at the Cobb in Lyme Regis.
And on Good Friday Rose, Evie and their 12 year old brother Max from Venlake, Uplyme, presented a cheque for £123-09p to John Marsden, treasurer of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild.
The children persuaded friends and neighbours to give them items to sell and delivered posters and leaflets advertising their back garden event.
Helping to raise money was a guess-the-teddy-bear’s-name competition and a raffle.
And mum Margaret baked 150 cakes !
Guild treasurer John Marsden said:”It was very enterprising of the youngsters. It’s a great example of children being aware of how they can help the community.”
Lifeboat Heroes
Watch a stunning documentary on the history of the RNLI, including reconstructions of famous rescues, profiles of our most courageous crew members, and an exploration of the RNLI today with adventurer and RNLI supporter Ben Fogle.
Lifeboat Heroes, Tuesday 26 April, 10pm, History and History HD
Lifeboat crew called again to rescue two in fishing boat
Shortly after the volunteers of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew returned home late on Thursday night – after leading the search for a missing diver – they were called out again just after midnight on Good Friday.
Two men were rescued when their 21 foot fishing boat broke down five miles south-east of Lyme Regis.
They had left West Bay and said they were heading for Plymouth when their boat, Dolphin, suffered engine failure.
The lifeboat crew towed Dolphin to the safety of Lyme Regis harbour, returning at 0140.
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat in search for missing diver
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched to-night (Thurs April 21st )following reports of two divers in difficulties three miles south of the town’s harbour.
One diver was taken to Poole for treatment but the other man was still missing when the search was called off in darkness.
The two divers were among a group aboard the dive boat Blue Turtle which sails out of Lyme Regis.
Lyme Regis lifeboat launched at 1738 at the request of Portland coastguards and arrived on the scene at the same time as a coastguard helicopter.
One diver was airlifted from the deck of the dive boat but there was no sign of the second man.
The Lyme Regis lifeboat was joined by several other vessels, including the Weymouth RNLI all weather lifeboat, the Sidmouth rescue boat and the RFA Gold Rover. The Lyme Regis harbourmaster’s launch also joined the search along with privately owned boats. Harbourmaster Grahame Forshaw was
joined aboard his vessel by lifeboat crew Mark Colley and Tim Wadsworth.
The crew of the RNLI lifeboat, Pearl of Dorset, which was at sea for some three and a half hours, was Tim Edwards, Martin Croad and Jon Broome.
Photo taken at some distance from aboard the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat shows the search scene with the RFA Gold Rover on the right.
Two rescued as speedboat breaks down
Two men aboard a broken down speedboat off Charmouth were rescued by the crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat today (Saturday, April 16th).
The lifeboat was launched at 1452 and towed the speedboat to safety in West Bay.
As the lifeboat left West Bay the harbourmaster asked the crew to investigate an empty canoe padlocked to a beacon post. It was decided that no-one was at risk and the lifeboat returned to Lyme Regis harbour at 1600.
Red Arrows to give Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week a flying start
Plans for this year’s Lifeboat Week in Lyme Regis have got off to a flying start with the news that the Red Arrows are returning to give a massive boost to the first full day of the event on July 23rd.
The RAF’s iconic aerobatic team have confirmed that they will fly in at lunchtime on the first Saturday of Lifeboat Week, which last year raised some £20,000 for the RNLI charity.
Rob Michael, chairman of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild, which organises the week, said: ”We are absolutely delighted to have the Red Arrows. They were unable to come last year, but thanks to the efforts of one of our guild committee members, David Gallier, they have agreed to give their
marvellous display this year.”
Lifeboat Week will include many of the regular favourites such as the sand castle competition on July 26th, the yard of ale contest on the 27th, the RAF Falcons parachute team on the 28th, the duck race on the 29th and the bath tub race on the 30th.
The week starts on Friday July 22nd with a rock concert at the Woodmead Hall and ends on Sunday the 31st with a display of illuminated boats in the harbour area.
Lifeboat Week this year will also include a special celebration event to mark the 150th year of a lifeboat service in Lyme Regis.
Lifeboat crew in rescue of injured girl after first aid awards
 Lifeboat crewmen went to the aid of a 15 year old girl with head injuries just minutes after receiving their first-aid certificates.
The Lyme Regis volunteer RNLI crew had just finished an all-morning training session today (Sun. Feb 27th) when Portland coastguards asked them to help the girl who had a serious head injury after falling on rocks beneath Church Cliffs to the east of the town. Twelve crew members had been presented with Casualty Care
certificates after the training session and following a recent two-week first aid course.
Minutes after the presentations by Lifeboat Operations Manager Grahame Forshaw the alarm was raised and the lifeboat, Pearl of Dorset, was launched within five minutes. Two crewmen, Martin Croad and James Rice, waded ashore to give first aid treatment to the girl who had a deep head wound. An RAF rescue helicopter from Chivenor
later arrived to airlift the girl to hospital in Dorchester.
Grahame Forshaw said:”It was quite a coincidence that I had just presented the first aid certificates.The crew did a great job and were praised by the helicopter paramedic for their treatment of the casualty before the aircraft arrived on scene.
The other two lifeboat crew members were helmsman Rob Crabbe and Ritchie Durrant. Earlier, the crews had trained in towing techniques for the first time using the harbourmaster’s new launch.
Lifeboat manager Grahame Forshaw is also the town’s harbourmaster. He said: “It makes absolute sense to use this asset to the harbour to enhance the training of our lifeboat crew. “Towing vessels is an important part of our service and the harbour launch, at 21 feet, is ideal for economical use in training.”
Lifeboat rescues man as engine is swamped
Lyme Regis’ RNLI lifeboat crew rescued the skipper of a 16 foot pleasure craft today (Tues 25th January) when his vessel’s engine failed after the electrics were swamped.
The boat, Shetland Sea Hog, from Axmouth, broke down five miles south of Lyme Regis near West Tennants Rocks. The skipper was transferred to the lifeboat and his vessel was then towed to the safety of Lyme Regis harbour. This was the second ‘shout’ of the New Year for the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew.
The extraordinary commitment of the south west RNLI team highlighted in the 2010 figures
Last year RNLI lifeboats in the south west spent nearly 2,000 hours at sea on emergency call outs, that’s the equivalent of 81 days saving lives at sea*, and the charity’s lifeguards faced their busiest season ever. In total, the 35 lifeboat stations in the south west* launched 1,552 times and rescued 1,559 people. RNLI lifeguards dealt with 12,946 incidents, assisting 14,703
people on the region’s beaches.
The 2010 figures are revealed in the week that the RNLI are preparing for the charity’s biggest day of fundraising, SOS Day, on Friday 28 January.
 It’s been another busy year for the volunteer lifeboat crews with the RNLI inshore lifeboats launching more than a thousand times and the crews of both the inshore and
all-weather lifeboats putting to sea during the hours of darkness more than 600 times. The busiest stations included Poole in Dorset (148 launches), Plymouth in Devon (107 launches), Torbay in Devon (90 launches) and Weymouth in Dorset and Newquay in Cornwall who both responded to 77 emergency calls.
The RNLI’s lifeguards who patrol over 90 beaches across Cornwall, Devon and Dorset has their busiest season since the service started in 2001, and a 26% increase in incidents compared to 2009. The busiest beaches were Perranporth in Cornwall (808 incidents), followed by Gwithian in Cornwall (590 incidents), Woolacombe in north Devon (544 incidents)
and Bournemouth East in Dorset, where RNLI lifeguards dealt with 487 incidents.
Adrian Carey, RNLI Divisional Inspector, says the figures illustrate the impressive and continuing commitment of the charity’s volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards: ‘An illustration of this commitment has to be the service to the Polish sail training vessel, Fryderyk Chopin. Three south west lifeboat volunteer crews responded
one after the other to support the stricken vessel, spending more than 60 hours at sea*. It is this extraordinary devotion to our charity that makes the service provided by the RNLI so unique. It has been another busy year and I once again thank all our volunteers, including those who help launch the lifeboats and those who run our lifeboat stations behind the scenes, for their hard work.
‘Meanwhile in response to people using the water earlier, and even later in the year, the RNLI are continuing to extend traditional patrols and the lifeguard season is getting longer and longer. We now have RNLI lifeguards patrolling Boscombe beach in Dorset 365 days a year, and such is the commitment of the lifeguards to maintaining safety on the
beach, a team provided a voluntary patrol on Newquay’s Fistral beach during weekends in November.
‘On Friday, many of these volunteers are also planning to support the charity’s fundraising efforts. Along side hundreds of dedicated supporters they will host SOS events across the region. From Soap Our Saloons in Burnham, to Swift On Saddles at Penlee and Spare Or Strike at Weymouth.’
Adrian also took the opportunity to remind those using the water to take their safety seriously, he continued: ‘More than half of our lifeboat call outs continue to be to pleasure craft which isn’t surprising in a popular leisure area like the south west, but machinery failure in power and sailing boats is still the main reason why people get
into trouble and in many cases this could be avoided. The RNLI continues to address this through the charity’s growing band of volunteer Lifeboat Sea Safety Officers who promote safety advice and the importance of getting suitable training before going to sea*.
‘On the beaches, the year on year increase in incidents just illustrates how essential the lifeguard service is to a region famed for its coastline. Alongside bodyboarding and surfing, which have always been popular, other water sports like kayaking and kite surfing, have seen a boom over the last few years. Even on the wettest day, it’s not unusual
to see plenty of people in the water, and over 54 per cent of the incidents the lifeguards responded to were to these activities. The RNLI produce safety tips on all these sports and the lifeguards provide advice, intended to prevent incidents before they occur.’
For more information on SOS Day, events near you and how to get involved, visit www.rnli.org.uk/sos
Lifeboat shop ‘sales’ to success again !
 The RNLI’s tiny souvenir shop down by the harbour in Lyme Regis has taken third place for turnover out of dozens of stores operated by the charity throughout the country.
The shop, with a turnover of £128,000 in 2010, was placed behind Whitby and Sheringham in Norfolk.
Turnover was £28,000 up on 2009 when the shop was fifth. Volunteer manager Brian Cursley said:”This is a tremendous result and a tribute to the forty people who give their time to run the shop every day of the week.
“I think our turnover reflects the sort of year the whole town had, and in the light of the nation’s economy it is quite remarkable.”
At the moment the shop is open for a short time at weekends but will re-open from March 21st from 10-30am to 6pm seven days a week.
Lifeboat prizewinner John gets a tap on the head
Prizewinners at the annual dinner of the RNLI in Lyme Regis are used to bizarre awards such as the Bent Propeller Trophy, so deservedly won this year by helmsman Dave Street.
But one of the youngest lifeboatmen in the town, 20 year old John Gage, last week (Friday) became the proud winner of a brand new accolade – a tap on the head.
John’s prize- a hard hat with a bathroom tap neatly plumbed in – was well deserved. During one ‘shout’ last year John arrived breathless in the operations room at the lifeboat station hoping to join the crew aboard the lifeboat Pearl of Dorset. But suddenly it dawned on him:
“Oh dear,” he yelled, “I’ve left the bath tap running at home.” That was the end of John’s ‘shout’ as he turned a pale shade of red and headed for home to avoid a flood.
The award was presented to worthy winner John by crew colleague Martin Croad. Said John: ”It won’t fit on the mantlepiece, so I think I’ll keep my prize in the bathroom where it belongs.”
Presentations included awards for the best attendance to Jon Broome and Mark Gage and Cobb Arms landlord John McClements who won a caption competition.
Gig club and lifeboat crew train to row to France
 Gig club rowers and members of the RNLI’s lifeboat crew in Lyme Regis are in serious training for SOS Day...January 28th.
It’s the RNLI’s biggest fundraising day and the crews are combining their efforts to row 208 miles – the distance to Barfleur in France and back – although they won’t be leaving the RNLI boathouse.
Four rowing machines will be used in the boathouse, or on the slipway weather permitting.
Gig club captain Henry Barlow said: ”Each machine should cover around seven miles an hour so the rowers, regardless of experience, should be travelling 28 miles every 60 minutes.”
Barfleur was chosen as the virtual destination because negotiations are under way for Lyme Regis to be twinned with the picturesque Normandy port.
Anyone can take part in the sponsored rowathon – called Sculls On Slipway – and advice on using a rowing machine will be given by Henry Barlow. Hot refreshments will be available, and the event starts at 12noon on January 28th. Further details and sponsorship forms are available here or phone
07769655362.
Lifeboat search after ‘flares’ alert
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew answered their first ‘shout’ of the New Year today (Sunday 2nd January) during a training exercise.
The volunteer crew were already at sea when they spotted what appeared to be two distress flares in the direction of Eype Mouth. After a thorough search nothing was found at sea, but coastguards ashore reported finding evidence of rockets – possibly fireworks – in a car park.
New Year safety warning from lifeboat chief
The new man in charge of the RNLI lifeboat station in Lyme Regis has issued his New Year advice to those going to sea in and around the resort: ”Have a great time, but just use your commonsense.” Grahame Forshaw starts 2011 as Lifeboat
Operations Manager combining that volunteer role with his full-time job as harbourmaster.
The lifeboat crew answered 36 emergency calls during 2010, eight less than in 2009. Mr Forshaw said: ”We will always be here as back-stop with our aim to save lives at sea. We all have an inbuilt survival instinct and the sea is for everyone to enjoy. I just urge all those who go to sea to take all the proper
precautions to stay safe and enjoy themselves.”
As for his new role, Mr Forshaw said: ”I see no conflict between being harbourmaster and Lifeboat Operations Manager. I am on the spot most of the day and I know all the key players. I think each of my roles is enhanced by the other.”
‘Gobsmacked’ – top lifeboatman Rob and the secret party
Retiring RNLI lifeboat manager Rob Fossett last week found himself the ‘victim’ of one of the best kept secrets in Lyme Regis.
All week long crew members, their families, and friends had been shaking his hand and wishing him well in retirement after a total of 30 years as a volunteer with the lifeboat charity.
And on Saturday night his partner Sue took him out for a ‘quiet drink’ at the town’s sailing club....only to be met by around 70 well wishers and a presentation ceremony.
‘Gobsmacked’ was Rob’s response.
Rob retired as Lifeboat Operations Manager – LOM – on December 1st, his 59th birthday. He served 25 years with the RNLI on the Essex coast followed by five years in Lyme Regis.
The RNLI’s Divisional Inspector for the south-west, Adrian Carey, presented Rob with a Certificate of Service after describing him as ‘a great administrator, a great life saver and a very accomplished lifeboatman.’
Mr Carey also presented training co-ordinator at the Lyme Regis station, Jon Broome, with his 20 year long service medal.
Jon Broome then presented Rob Fossett with a gift from the crew, a painting by the late Matt Lethbridge, an RNLI lifeboatman from St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly who was much-admired by Rob.
Matt spent almost 40 years as a lifeboatman and carried out many major rescues.
Lifeboat on exercise joins search for ‘missing’ man
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was on exercise to-night (Tues Nov. 30th) when it was asked to assist police and coastguards in the search for a missing man from the Seaton area.
The lifeboat crew carried out a shoreline search between Culverhole Point and Beer Head.
The lifeboat, which was alerted at 1942, had been at sea for around an hour when the man was found ashore by police officers.
This was the 36th emergency call answered by the Lyme Regis RNLI volunteers so far this year.
Trawlerman, fire chief, lifeboat boss – Rob retires after 43 years
He worked on trawlers at the age of 15, went to sea as lifeboat crew on his 16th birthday and rose to become one of the most senior officers in the nation’s fire and rescue service.
And today (December 1st), again on his birthday, Rob Fossett, 59, retires as the man at the helm of the RNLI lifeboat operation in Lyme Regis. Mr Fossett has completed a total of 43 years with the emergency services, including 30 as a volunteer with the RNLI.
He lived in Lyme as a boy and went to Woodroffe School before returning to his home county of Essex where he began working on trawlers as deck hand, mate and skipper. He joined the RNLI lifeboat crew at Southend-on-Sea in 1967 serving for 25 years, 13 of them as senior helmsman. During his time with the Essex crew the Southend lifeboats
saved 589 lives.
He received 16 awards and commendations for his lifeboat and fire service work and was involved in no less than 3,000 emergency calls with the RNLI in Essex and 30,000 incidents annually with the fire and rescue service, where his last role was as Operations Commander. Mr Fossett returned to Lyme Regis on retirement with partner Sue and joined
the town’s RNLI team five years ago, becoming Lifeboat Operations Manager. He now hands over to the town’s harbourmaster Grahame Forshaw who recently joined the Lyme Regis crew as a Deputy Launching Authority.
Mr Fossett said: ”I have had a fantastic time with the RNLI and the fire and rescue service. There have been some very proud moments, but there is nothing quite like the feeling of satisfaction when you are involved in the saving of a life. In the end, though, it is all down to teamwork, and that means everyone at the lifeboat station, the
people who run the RNLI shop, members of the Guild, in fact everyone who contributes in any way to this great charity. As for my successor, who better than our hugely experienced harbourmaster ? He is embarking on an exciting experience and I know he will enjoy the camaraderie of a very close-knit team dedicated to saving lives at sea.”
Grahame Forshaw said: ”I am delighted to be taking over from Rob, but he will be a hard act to follow. He is rightly held in very hard regard by the lifeboat crew. I am astonished at the commitment of the volunteer men and women involved with the lifeboat. I admire their commitment, and I look forward to working with them all.”
Senior crew member Garry Gibbs added his tribute to Rob Fossett: ”He brought a calming personality to the station and nothing is too much trouble with words of advice readily available. He brings out the best in most people and brought humour and organisational skills to the role. He will be missed, and he leaves a big pair of yellow wellies to
be filled.!”
Lifeboat crew join flood response team
Three volunteer crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat were part of the charity’s flood response team who were alerted to assist when areas of Cornwall were flooded on Wednesday.
Tim Edwards, Martin Croad and Elliott Herbert joined eleven other members of the team ready to help when they gathered at police headquarters in Exeter
The three Lyme Regis crew are members of the specially trained team who are ready to go to disaster scenes anywhere in the world at 24 hours notice.
Tim Edwards said:”Although in the end we were not needed for rescue work, it was a useful exercise and a valuable experience meeting other members of the flood response team.”
Lyme Regis lifeboat launched to yacht heading for France in ‘astronomical seas’
Two sailors aboard a 21 foot yacht continued their journey to France in rough seas this evening (Nov 17th) despite advice from the crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat.
The lifeboat was launched after the yacht Avocet, was seen leaving Lyme Regis harbour by Lifeboat Operations Manager Rob Fossett.
Mr Fossett said:”The yacht was engulfed by a huge swell and I felt it would surely turn round and return to harbour. But it didn’t.
“The height of the waves was astronomical, and the yacht had one outboard engine and a sail.”
After consultations involving lifeboat officials and coastguards at Portland it was decided to launch the Lyme Regis lifeboat, Pearl of Dorset, to advise the two men of the reported sea conditions in the channel between the English and French coastlines.
The yacht had completed only three and a half miles of the 100 mile passage in one hour when the lifeboat reached it.
Mr Fossett said:”The two men aboard the yacht said they were fine and that they would continue towards Cherbourg.
“They also made it clear that they were experienced sailors and that they would keep in touch with the coastguards by radio.”
The volunteer crew of the RNLI Lyme Regis lifeboat, which was at sea for an hour, was Dave Street, Tim Edwards and John Broome.
Lyme Regis harbourmaster Grahame Forshaw, who is also a Deputy Launching Authority at the lifeboat station, said:” The rule should be that if you are going to sea in any conditions you should plan well and make sure, as far as possible, that nothing can go wrong. In this case the potential was there so we thought
it wise to issue advice.”
Two more at the helm
Two crew members at the RNLI lifeboat station in Lyme Regis have just joined the ranks of helmsmen.
Elliot Herbert and Martin – best known by his nickname of ‘Myrtle’ – Croad, both aged 31, completed their operational ‘pass-out’ as helms last week under the watchful eye of the RNLI’s Divisional Training Inspector Tom Mansell. Elliot and Martin were at sea in darkness and rough conditions for around two hours
before they heard they had qualified.
Martin said: ”It’s been a long haul and hard work, including plenty of theory, over two years, but I am delighted to be a helmsman.” Martin has been a lifeboat volunteer in Lyme Regis for ten years and Elliot for eight years.
There are now seven fully qualified helmsmen at the Lyme Regis station.
Birthday boy Mac, 89, is toast of the lifeboat crew
John (Mac) Sewell celebrated his 89th birthday today (Sunday) with half a pint of beer...and the crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat.
And for Mac it was a double celebration at the Cobb Arms pub because the crew had arranged to present him with the RNLI’s vellum certificate of service on the very same big day.
Mac joined the lifeboat crew in 1967 and became shore crew in 1971 until 1991. His final role as Boathouse Superintendent – opening up and closing the lifeboat station every day of the week – lasted until earlier this year, bringing his volunteer RNLI service to a total of forty three years.
The certificate – presented by long serving crew member Andrew Rice- records that during Mac’s service the lifeboat rescued no fewer than 281 people.
Mac, accompanied by his niece Mrs. Sue Lynall, said: ”The award was a lovely surprise on my birthday. It is so nice to be remembered by all my lifeboat friends.”
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat resumes search for ‘missing man’
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched this morning (Monday 25th October) to resume the search for a man reported missing on Sunday. Portland coastguard requested the launch at 1027 and once again the lifeboat searched the coast from Allhallows to Beer Head, concentrating on the Seaton Hole area. The independent
Sidmouth rescue boat and a police helicopter also joined the search, but nothing was found. The Lyme Regis lifeboat returned after extensive searches had been carried out during nearly three hours at sea.
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat launched in search for ‘missing man’
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched last night (Sun Oct 24) following reports of a man missing from home.
The lifeboat was launched at 19.58 and searched an area from Allhallows and west to Beer Head.
After a thorough search by the lifeboat and the coastguard helicopter from Portland – as well as coastguard teams ashore – nothing was found.
Nearly two hours after launching, the lifeboat was stood down by coastguards and returned to Lyme Regis.
Any more for the lifeboat', call goes out for new crew members
The crew at the RNLI's lifeboat station in Lyme Regis are on the look-out for
more volunteers to keep the lifesaving operation afloat.
''We do not have a serious shortage of people and certainty not an immediate
crisis, but we do need to plan carefully for The future " said Lifeboat Operations
Manager Rob Fossett.
The Lyme Regis station has some 30 volunteers carrying out a wide variety of
Tasks, and 19 of them qualify to go to sea But at the age of 50 the RNLI regulations say that men or women can no longer be sea-going crew.
"It can take anywhere between six months and a year for a man or a woman To
become a sea-going crew member," said Mr Fossett. The majority of training takes place at our lifeboat station and can
also involve courses at the RNLI headquarters m Poole. All crew are continually assessed"
Availability and commitment are key to becoming volunteers with the RNLI charity. The need to be living in or close to Lyme Regis is also important so that
volunteers can reach the lifeboat station safely
but in good time for launching. There is also a need to be able to leave work to answer a shout' which can occur at any time night or day 365 days a year.
Apart from going to sea, crew carry out a multitude of duties ashore including
operating the radio link between the boathouse the lifeboat and the coastguards, maintain the tractor and other vital equipment, training, keeping the
station itself tidy, giving talks and generally promoting the work of the charity.
Rob Fossett said: "We have a superb team in Lyme Regis, there is a great sense of camaraderie and it's a wonderful feeling knowing you are helping
others in difficulty, and sometimes, of course, saving lives."
Anyone who would like to know more about joining The Lyme Regis RNLI crew should write to the Lifeboat Operations Manager at the RNLI lifeboat station
at The Cobb. Lyme Regis.
RNLI lifeboats rescue two aboard ex-lifeboat
Two men in a crippled de-commissioned ship’s lifeboat were rescued early today (Sun Oct 17th) by RNLI lifeboats off the Dorset/Devon coast.
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched at 0609 to assist the 26 foot boat called Cormorant whose position in darkness was first given as near West Bay.
Later, after mobile phone contact by the men with Portland coastguards and the use of flares by the lifeboat and the Cormorant, the two men and their vessel were traced to one and a half miles south of Sidmouth.
The Cormorant was travelling from Salcombe to Portsmouth when she lost all power.
Lyme Regis lifeboat crew took the Cormorant under tow before requesting the launch of the all weather lifeboat from nearby Exmouth to complete the tow, avoiding a 12 mile journey to Lyme Regis.
The two men aboard the wooden ex-lifeboat Peter Hawkes, 58, and his son, Richard, 31, were taking the boat to their home town of Portsmouth for a friend.
Mr Peter Hawkes said: ”Everything went perfectly. The RNLI were brilliant, but we were embarrassed to have to call for their help.”
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat joins search for women ‘cut off by tide’
A full-scale search was launched this evening (Thurs Oct 7th) after coastguards were told two elderly women had been cut off by the tide at Lyme Regis.
The RNLI lifeboat and coastguard helicopter carried out an extensive search of the coastline after a man reported that the women had been seen waving in the Church Cliff area.
One lifeboat crew member, Elliot Herbert, swam ashore with a radio and first aid kit while the lifeboat and helicopter searched the area in heavy rain and choppy seas.
Coastguards also searched ashore assisted by lifeboat crew.
The lifeboat was launched at 1620 and the search was called off, without further sightings, after a thorough search some 40 minutes later.
The other lifeboat crew members were Dave Street, helm, John Cable and Tim Edwards.
Lifesaving youngster from Down Under in fact finding trip to RNLI
T wo young lifesavers from opposite ends of the world met at Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat station at the weekend to compare notes.
Callum Good, 14, was visiting the town with his parents from their home near Sydney, Australia.
Callum is Junior Lifesaver of the Year in the Sydney area where there are 30 lifesaving clubs including one that covers the famous Bondi Beach.
Waiting to meet Callum for a pre-planned visit to the Lyme Regis lifeboat station was 18 year old Ritchie Durrant, who until recently was the youngest seagoing crew member with the lifeboat.
Callum is a member of the Marouba Lifesaving Club, which he described as ‘ four beaches away from Bondi.’
He is also a volunteer as a helper with the Westpac rescue helicopter based near Botany Bay.
Ritchie and Callum exchanged gifts before Callum and dad Julian were given an extensive tour of the Lyme Regis lifeboat station by Lifeboat Operations Manager Rob Fossett and Deputy Launching Authority Phil Ball.
Callum said:”I just could not come to the UK without visiting the RNLI. It was very interesting to compare notes on lifesaving issues and to learn so much about your lifeboat service.
Rob Fossett said:”The RNLI’s lifeguard service is based on the Australian system, so this has been a very useful experience for all of us.”
Callum and his family have been staying in Lyme Regis for part of their visit, during which they also celebrated the 80th birthday of Callum’s grandmother Anne.
22nd Sept Four rescued as boat engine fails
Four men on a fishing trip were rescued by the crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat, Maritime Nation, last night (Weds. Sept 22) when their vessel suffered engine failure.
The men were aboard a 12 foot Dory off Black Venn when their boat developed engine problems.
The lifeboat was launched at 1738 and towed the Dory and its passengers to the safety of Lyme Regis harbour.
Maritime Nation is a temporary replacement for the Lyme Regis lifeboat, Pearl of Dorset, which is undergoing a nine week refit at the RNLI’s Poole headquarters.
Three saved by Lyme Regis RNLI as their boat collides with buoy
12th September
Three men were rescued by a Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew today after their motor boat collided with a buoy just outside the
town's harbour. One man was taken to hospital in Yeovil after inhaling sea water
Two of the men clambered aboard the South Cardinal buoy and waited to be rescued after the collision. The third man stayed
aboard the 12 foot boat as it became submerged.
The lifeboat was on exercise when the alarm was raised at 0955.this morning and was on The scene within a minute. First on
the scene, and standing by while the lifeboat arrived, was the harbourmaster's 18foot rigid Inflatable vessel, with lifeboat crew member Andrew Kaye on board.
RNLI helmsman Brian Street said:' When we arrived one man was still aboard the submerged boat and two others had clambered on to
the buoy. "We picked up the man from the boat then the other two, one of whom was in obvious distress'
The lifeboat took the three men ashore One of them was attended by crew in the boathouse and later taken to hospital.
The lifeboat then retrieved the semi-submerged vessel which had drifted half a mile east and lowed it to the harbour Brian
Street added:” Everyone was very lucky that the weather was so good and
the sea flat, otherwise it could have been a very different story."
The RNLJ crew were helmsman Brian Street, who co-ordinated the rescue, while Martin Croad maintained
control of the lifeboat, and John Bird.
Sunflower contest produces a blooming useful aid for lifeboat crews
A competition to grow the tallest sunflower has produced more than a colourful crop for the RNLI lifeboat station in Lyme Regis.
The competition was the idea of Anne Duncan, who is the first female member of the town’s Rotary Club. She organised the sale of sunflower seeds throughout the town and wanted the proceeds to buy something useful for the lifeboat station.
She raised around £300, enough for a weather station, a vital aid to the volunteer crews. Anne presented the weather station to crew member Jon Broome and it was immediately installed in the boathouse operations room.
Jon said: “We are very grateful to Anne and the Rotary Club for this important piece of equipment, which will make a vital contribution to the safety of our crews at sea.
“The weather station will give us accurate information about current and changing conditions and will provide real-time readings of wind speed, humidity as well as forecasts, and we will be able to monitor all this detail while the lifeboat is at sea.”
As for the sunflower competition, the best plant so far is 80inches tall, but the final result will not be known until the end of September.
Lifeboat launched to ‘six people in the sea’
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched at 1709 yesterday (Weds) evening after reports that six people were in difficulties in the water at the western end of Sidmouth promenade.
The coastguard helicopter was also called and members of the crew of the independent Sidmouth Rescue attended on foot. The helicopter stood down at 1727 when it was reported that all six people, including a child, had been safely recovered.
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was asked to conduct a search of the area as a precaution and was stood down at 1749.
Lifeboats switch for ‘MOT’
RNLI crews in Lyme Regis have said a soggy, but temporary, farewell to their lifeboat, Pearl of Dorset.
The Atlantic 75-class boat with its twin 75hp engines has been returned to RNLI headquarters in Poole for her ‘MOT’...a full refit during which every part of the vessel is tested and replaced if necessary. Meanwhile, an identical replacement, named Maritime Nation, arrived last Wednesday (yesterday). For a short
time Lyme Regis had two lifeboats while crew members checked the replacement vessel and transferred equipment from the Pearl of Dorset.
After taking Maritime Nation on trials in rough seas and torrential rain the replacement boat took up residence in the boathouse and Pearl of Dorset was taken by road to Poole. Lyme Regis Lifeboat Operations Manager, Rob Fossett, said: ”The refit will take nine weeks and is a routine operation to ensure the lifeboat is maintained to
the highest standards demanded by the RNLI to ensure the safety of our crews.”
Lifeboat crew at sea for three hours to rescue two yachts
A Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew spent three and a half hours at sea today (Sat. Aug 21st) answering two calls to sailing boats in distress.
The first call, at 1358, was to a capsized Laser class dinghy drifting half a mile off the main beach.
The lifeboat towed the dinghy, with its owner, to the safety of the harbour.
The second call came just as the lifeboat returned to harbour with the Laser dinghy.
A 35 foot yacht with two men and two women aboard suffered engine failure in rough seas six miles south west of Sidmouth.
As the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was still afloat it was agreed with coastguards that the crew should meet the independent Sidmouth Rescue vessel on scene and tow the crippled yacht to Lyme Regis Harbour, its original destination.
The yacht, Seabreeze Too, had been en-route to Lyme Regis from Torquay.
At 1525 Sidmouth Rescue passed the yacht on tow to the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat which arrived in harbour at 1726.
The Lyme Regis crew members, who covered an area of 32 miles for the second rescue, were helmsman Dave Street, John Broome and Andrew Rice.
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat rescues divers as their boat breaks down
Five divers were rescued by the RNLI lifeboat at Lyme Regis today (August 7th) after their boat lost its steering and began to drift. Portland coastguards called for the lifeboat to be launched when they were told the dive boat, Scoundrel, a rigid inflatable, was drifting away from the
divers who were all submerged.
The lifeboat was launched at 1350 and was on scene 1.3 miles south of Lyme Regis harbour twelve minutes later.
Three of the divers had surfaced when the lifeboat arrived and two more surfaced a few minutes later.
All five divers were taken by the lifeboat to Lyme Regis harbour. None needed medical attention.
The lifeboat then returned to the dive boat and towed it – and its crew of two – to the safety of Lyme Regis Harbour. The operation was completed at 1455.
The RNLI lifeboat crew was James Rice, helm, Mark Colley and John Gage.
Hundreds see the Lerret launch as Lyme Regis and Charmouth Lifeboat Week raises £16,000
Hundreds packed the harbour and beach at Lyme Regis on Saturday to watch the ceremonial launch of a replica of one of the first lifeboats to be used by the RNLI in 1830.
The boat, a lerrett, was built at the Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy by traditional wooden boat builder Gail McGarva. The launch of the 17 foot double ended clinker boat came the day before the end of one of the most successful Lyme Regis and Charmouth Weeks.
After the naming, Littlesea, and the obligatory bottle of champagne and the throwing of sea salt, the vessel was rowed in procession out of the harbour with the town’s RNLI lifeboat, Pearl of Dorset, leading the way.
The flotilla included the new lerret followed by Vera, a lerret built in 1923 and two Cornish Pilot gigs also built by Gail McGarva. The lerret, which takes four rowers, is exclusive to the Dorset coast and originates from 1682 when it was used for mackerel fishing.
The RNLI used two lerrets as lifeboats in 1830 because of their superb seaworthiness.
Provisional figures released last night (Sunday, August 1st) show receipts in the region of £16,000 for Lyme Regis and Charmouth Lifeboat week. Chairman of the local Guild, Rob Michael said: ”Times are difficult financially, but as usual everyone was very generous. “Our figures may be a little lower than last year, but this the first time in five years that
I have not had to rearrange events because of bad weather. The sun shone nearly all week.”
Three men in a boat rescued by Lyme Regis RNLI
Three men in a broken down fishing boat were rescued today (July 31st) by the crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat.
The 14 foot vessel lost power south of Golden Cap. The lifeboat, which launched at 1512, towed the fishing boat, called Bluebell, to the safety of Lyme Regis harbour.
22July 2010 RNLI lifeboat replica from the 1830s to be launched at Lyme Regis
A replica of one of the first lifeboats used by the RNLI is to be launched at Lyme Regis as one of the highlights of the town’s Lifeboat Week.The week starts on Saturday, July 24th and one of the first events is a welcome display by the RNLI Lyme Regis crew and their lifeboat the Pearl of Dorset.
A week later at 11-30am on July 31st a boat known as a lerret will be launched after months of work by traditional wooden boatbuilder Gail McGarva. Gail is currently applying the finishing touches to the boat. The lerret is a 17foot double ended clinker vessel which takes four rowers and is wholly native to Lyme Bay, originating from 1682. It was mainly used for mackerel fishing, but in the 1830s the then newly-formed RNLI adopted two lerrets for service as lifeboats due to their remarkable sea worthiness.
The launch on July 31st will be accompanied by two gigs, also built by Gail, plus the only remaining seaworthy lerret, a boat called Vera dating from 1923. The Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat will also join in the celebrations. Gail won a scholarship from the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, funded by the Royal Warrant Holders Association, to build the lerret.
2010
Lyme Regis RNLI crew trained to tackle flood disasters
Three members of the crew of the RNLI’s Lyme Regis lifeboat have just returned from Wales after being trained to join a Flood Rescue Team to tackle major incidents in the UK or abroad.
The three volunteers – Martin Croad, 30, Tim Edwards,33, and Elliott Herbert, 31,- spent five days (last week) at a white water centre near Bala Lake in Snowdonia on a course to train them as what are known as Swift Water Rescue Technicians.
They could now be called upon to join a team of 20 RNLI crew members to tackle disasters such as that which struck Cockermouth in November last year.
Martin, Tim and Elliott joined other crewmen from the south division of the RNLI on the course which dealt with issues such as river searching, body recovery, rope rigging, rescue from sunken cars, dams, waterfalls and weirs. The RNLI has three flood rescue teams each consisting of up to twenty members, and they rotate their state of
readiness.
At Cockermouth, along with other emergency services, they rescued 300 people using nine lifeboats which had been transported to the area.
Each team has to be trained with an inshore lifeboat – such as the Lyme Regis vessel –and includes an HGV driver, fork lift driver, first aider, a paramedic or doctor and someone with previous experience in disaster relief.
Tim Edwards, a helmsman with the Lyme Regis lifeboat, said: ”We all found the course extremely tough...hard work, but good fun, and we learned a lot.
“It was a real eye opener to see how much damage a relatively small amount of river water can do.
“The conditions on the river were entirely difference to the situations we find at sea.
“The power of swift water in a river is just relentless.”
Rob Fossett, Lifeboat Operations Manager in Lyme Regis, said: ”All three of our crew members have returned with new and important skills. They have learned good team practices and I am delighted they did so well on the course.”
RNLI Lyme Regis lifeboat launched to assist ‘raft’
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched at 1600 today (April 21st) following reports of a ‘raft’- with one man aboard - in difficulties off Charmouth.
The lifeboat went alongside and assisted the ‘raft’ to the safety of Charmouth beach where the vessel and its owner were met by coastguards.
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