Braving the storm

RNLI Events
this winter
Remember
the RNLI
Braving
the storm
Volunteers courage
Winter 2012
RNLI -the charity thatsaves lives at sea Issue 2

3 -
6 on
ntent
nnen
thered
the
ve to
You
ed to
filmion
as
ilming
are
4 n Port Issac
Medal winners
6 n Flooding
RNLI in action
9 n Exhibition
Search and
rescue
13 n Awards
South West
vounteers
15 n Legacy
Remember
the RNLI
16 n Sennen
Cove
New dry suits
19 n Cooking
Chefs go head
to head
20 n On track
Fundraising
single
21 n SOS day
Plan your event
23 n Bravery
Lifeguards
honoured
24 n Operations
A busy time
26 n Challenge
RNLI rescues
29 n Olympics
Rower Helen
Glover
28 n What’s On
Winter events
Cover picture:
Matthew Main/crew
volunteer at Port
Issac RNLI
Advertising
Lloyd Saunders
telephone: 01326 213306
e-mail:
lloyd.saunders@packetseries.co.uk
Design & page layout
Packet Newspapers
telephone: 01326 213333
What a team - and
that includes you!
WINTER is suddenly with us but
rather than get gloomy about dark
nights and snow, we’re celebrating
the arrival of Edition 2 of the
Cornwall RNLI magazine, thanks to
Packet Newspapers who have once
again helped us to produce this at
no cost to our charity.
We were delighted to receive a
wide range of positive comments
about our first edition and hope
you’ll enjoy more news from the
RNLI, including some dates for your
diaries.
So what was the summer like for
the RNLI in the South West? Well a
quick snapshot of business for our
lifeboat crew volunteers in June, July
and August showed that the teams
at our 35 lifeboat stations in the
South West launched 653 times, a
slight rise on last year’s total of 627.
Despite the poor weather, the RNLI
volunteers in Cornwall, Devon,
Dorset, Somerset and the Channel
Islands were involved in a wide
range of activities from the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee celebrations and
Olympics, to dramatic rescues in
challenging conditions.
Nationally, the figures were down
two per cent compared to 2011,
probably due to rainy weather at the
beginning of the summer. In the
South West the unseasonable
weather led to some extremely
difficult rescue operations.
Cornwall’s 14 lifeboat stations took
to the sea to help people 207 times
with the busiest stations in Cornwall
being Falmouth (45 launches),
Penlee with 24 emergency call outs
and Newquay who responded to 23
requests to launch. The furthest
distance travelled by a lifeboat in a
single shout was carried out by St
Mary’s lifeboat, from the Isles of
Scilly, which launched to rescue a
catamaran, in difficulty 80 nautical
miles offshore, and tow it back to
harbour.
Once again the figures show that
our volunteer crews are committed
and brave individuals, on standby to
save lives at sea come rain or shine
even during the summer when they
deserve their own time off to be with
their families. I’m sure you will join
me in thanking them for their
continuing dedication, and their
families for their invaluable support.
fax: 01326 212084
e-mail: eeditorial@packetseries.co.uk
n Bernice Putt, volunteer RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer at The Lizard
with Tamsin Thomas, RNLI Public Relations Manager for the South
West
As the RNLI’s public relations
manager for the South West, I have
the pleasure of working with a team
of volunteer lifeboat press officers
who are based at the stations. Today
I would like to introduce Bernice Putt
from The Lizard who has kindly
joined me to put the content for this
magazine together. . .
The first edition of this publication
was a really great read and very
informative, and I am privileged to
have been asked by Tamsin to help
put together edition two.
Through my position at the lifeboat
station I see daily the commitment
the volunteers have, but my
motivation comes from helping the
operational crews gain the
recognition they deserve for
spending their time preparing and
responding to lifesaving incidents.
They deserve all the thanks they get
when dragging themselves from their
beds to react to an incident in the
middle of the night or motivating
themselves to launch on exercise in
the middle of winter, when most
people would be sat at home
watching TV with a cup of hot
chocolate.
As you will read later in this issue,
it is also good to see the fundraising
and lifeboat station volunteers gain
recognition for their commitment.
Without these dedicated teams and
Newsquest Cornwall, Falmouth Business
Park, Bickland Water Road, Falmouth,
Cornwall, TR11 4SZ
The opinions expressed by the RNLI
are not necessarily those of the
editor or publisher.
individuals the lifeboat volunteers
and the lifeguards would not have
the equipment required to be able to
save lives at sea. It takes several
months of planning to put on the
fundraising events that are held all
year round in Cornwall. I have been
amazed at just how many volunteers
have given a lifetime of commitment
to stations, guilds and branches. It is
also commendable to see how many
fundraising teams work inland and
do not have an operational lifeboat
station close-by to help provide their
motivation. I must also thank our
lifeboat/lifeguard supporters. No
event can be a success without
them making the effort to come
along in all winds and weather to
sample the cakes, look round the
stations and to part with hardearned
cash.
Finally I would like to thank all the
volunteer RNLI crews, fundraisers
and station personnel who have
worked really hard throughout the
summer, as it has enabled us to
write about the RNLI in this issue. I
hope you enjoy reading all about our
Cornish volunteers exploits. Thank
you.
To find out more about the RNLI
visit our website at www.rnli.org.uk.
To contact us about this magazine
please feel free to drop us a line at
feedback@rnli.org.uk
Published by the RNLI.
Produced by Newsquest Cornwall
(part of the Gannett Group) from its
office at Falmouth Business Park,
Bickland Water Road, Falmouth,
Cornwall, TR11 4SZ. Printed at
Newsquest Print Centre, Fleet House,
Hampshire Road, Weymouth,
DT4 9XD.
3

Volunteers showed
outstanding courage
THREE volunteer crew members
from Port Isaac Lifeboat Station
have each been awarded one of
the Royal National Lifeboat
Institution’s highest accolades for
their courage, leadership and
initiative in rough and dangerous
sea conditions beneath the cliffs of
the north Cornwall coast in April.
Helmsman Damien Bolton, along
with crew members Nicola-Jane
Bradbury and Matthew Main,
launched the inshore lifeboat in
force 4 to 5 winds to rescue two
people who had been swept into
rough water very close to the cliffs.
The two casualties were within
an arc of semi-submerged rocks
and were being tumbled in the
confused and breaking, threemetre
waves, making any rescue
extremely challenging.
Operating at the extreme limits
of the lifeboat’s capabilities,
Damien used great seamanship
skills to manoeuvre the vessel
towards the two men, who were
struggling to stay above the
crashing surf. The crew managed
to pull one of the men to safety.
The other was recovered to the
lifeboat, but, tragically, did not
survive.
For their outstanding courage
and bravery in the face of great
danger, Damien has been awarded
the RNLI’s Silver Medal for
Gallantry and Nicola-Jane and
Matthew have each been awarded
the charity’s Bronze Medal for
Gallantry.
Michael Vlasto, RNLI operations
director, said: “This was a service
carried out in very difficult
conditions with confused and
breaking seas very close to a
dangerous lee shore, with semisubmerged
rocks and floating rope
in the water.
“Helmsman Damien Bolton and
his two crew, Nicola-Jane
Bradbury and Matthew Main, were
aware of the risk they were
exposing themselves to, but felt
that the potential of saving a life
outweighed that risk. Although this
rescue was also tinged with
tragedy, it is a testament to their
bravery, skill and tenacity that one
of the men survived and made a
full recovery.”
Paul Sleeman, who survived the
incident, and the rest of his family,
said: “Paul, Linda, Mark, Jenna,
Emma and the rest of the family of
the late Peter Sleeman would like
to pass on their sincere
congratulations to Damien, Nicki
and Matt, three truly amazing
people on their very worthy
awards. Without their skills,
bravery and determination Paul
wouldn’t be here today. His life
4
n Praised for their courage, leadership and initiative are RNLI helmsman Damien Bolton and lifeboat
crew members Matthew Main and Nicola-Jane Bradbury
was saved with seconds to spare.
Also, the huge effort they went to,
to recover Pete which enabled us
to lay him to rest, something that
the whole family will always be
grateful for.
“The family are also grateful for
the continuous help and support
during this tragic and difficult time
from all at Port Isaac RNLI. Some
wonderful, strong, long-term
relationships have been made.
“Port Isaac RNLI now holds a
very special place in all our hearts.”
The Port Isaac inshore lifeboat
was launched on Sunday, April 8,
just after 8.25am following the
receipt of reports that two people
were in the water at Tregardock.
On board the D class lifeboat
Copeland Bell were volunteer
helmsman Damien Bolton and
crew members Nicola-Jane
Bradbury and Matthew Main.
The wind was west-southwest
force 4 to 5, and with high tide
approaching and the wind blowing
onshore, the conditions at the cliffs
where the two men had been
swept into the water were
challenging. When the lifeboat
crew arrived on scene at 8.36am,
they found a three-metre dumping
sea breaking onto the cliff face,
exacerbated by waves reflecting
off the cliff, which created a rough
and confused sea close inshore.
The coastguard informed the
volunteers that the two casualties
were in the water at an area called
The Steps and that an RAF rescue
helicopter had been tasked and
was 11 minutes away. Damien
headed to the area and spotted
two people in the water very close
to the cliffs, being tumbled in the
surf.
While he was assessing the
situation, one of the casualties was
turned by a wave and, on seeing
the lifeboat, shouted for help and
raised an arm before disappearing
below the surface again.
Damien decided to use a
manoeuvre called veering down –
a technique the crew practice
regularly – in which the crew pay
out the anchor cable whilst
applying astern power,
manoeuvring the lifeboat
backwards under control towards
the casualty.
By this means the crew can use
the anchor to help control the
position of the lifeboat when
working near a dangerous lee
shore.
Damien positioned the lifeboat
about 70 metres from the casualty
so that Matthew could drop the
anchor and then slack the anchor
warp while Nicola-Jane kept a
lookout for large waves and
operated the radio.
Damien helmed the lifeboat

n Members of the Port Isaac RNLI receive a cheque for £450 from the St Teath Carnival Committee along with the Sleeman family of
Michaelstow. Pictured are Paul Sleeman, Emma Braunton, Linda Sleeman, Penny Harris, Chris Wheeler, Faye Archell, Nicky Halford (St
Teath Carnival Committee), Sandy Bulgin, Bob Bulgin (Port Isaac RNLI chairman), John Brown, Damien Bolton (helmsman and training
officer), Nicki Bradbury (crew member), Del Allerton Baldwin (helmsman), Sheryl Webster and Tracy Kitto (St Teath Carnival Committee)
Picture: ADRIAN JASPER
safely over two sets of three-metre
waves as he brought it within three
metres of the cliff face and a couple
of metres from the casualties. One
was holding onto the other and an
orange rope appeared to be
tangled around them. Concerned
that the rope may get caught
around the lifeboat’s propeller if he
took the lifeboat closer, Damien
called for the men to swim to the
boat.
First wrapping the line around his
fellow casualty, one of the men
made his way to the lifeboat where
Nicola-Jane and Damien attempted
to pull him aboard. Matthew
warned that a large wave was
approaching, which then broke
over the lifeboat, filling it with water.
At the same time, the engine
stopped and the lifeboat began to
turn sideways onto the waves,
exposing the crew to the risk of
capsize.
Damien quickly restarted the
engine and applied power astern to
turn the lifeboat's bow to face the
waves. All three crew members
then worked together to get the
casualty who had reached the boat
on board. The orange rope was
attached to him and it appeared to
be connected to the man still in the
water, so Matthew secured one
end to the lifeboat.
With the confused seas and
submerged rocks, the lifeboat and
volunteer crew were operating at
their limits and, with the casualty
onboard the lifeboat deteriorating
rapidly and needing immediate
care, they had to make a quick
assessment of the situation. Having
not seen any response from the
second casualty, and since
reaching him could put everybody
on the lifeboat in more danger,
Damien decided to helm the
lifeboat away from the cliff where
the first man could be transferred
to the rescue helicopter, which was
on its way.
It was too risky to recover the
anchor, so Matthew cut the line
and Damien helmed the lifeboat
towards deeper water, pulling the
second casualty clear of the cliff as
he did so. Once away from the cliff
and out of the breaking seas, the
lifeboat crew attended the first
casualty who was drifting in and
out of consciousness. Matthew
took off his helmet and put it onto
the man’s head to prevent heat
loss.
Meanwhile, Damien pulled in the
orange line to bring the second
casualty alongside the lifeboat.
Sadly, he was not breathing and
was unresponsive and was later
declared dead.
The crew’s priority now was to
evacuate the first casualty, whose
condition was deteriorating, and
they quickly manoeuvred the
lifeboat so that he could be
winched into the rescue helicopter.
He was taken to hospital where he
subsequently made a full recovery.
n The scene of the rescue operation the day after the rescue
5

Extra work for flood team
AS IF an RNLI crew volunteer
wasn't busy enough remaining on
standby 24 hours a day for their
local lifeboat team, some also
choose to volunteer for thhe
charity's flood rescue teams.
Volunteers from Cornwall are
amongst those who belong to the
south west team and this autumn
they were put through their paces
at an annual training event in
Hayle.
It's a requirement that the teams
practise their skills on a regular
basis and the aim of the training
events is to refresh pre-learnt skills
and conduct rescue scenarios
which closely match those that
may be experienced in a flood
deployment.
So the south west team
gathered, along with two
colleagues from Devon and
Cornwall Police, at the RNLI
Lifeguard Area Support Centre in
Hayle and set up a base camp,
sleeping in the open warehouse.
This is typical of the type of
accommodation that's offered or
available during a deployment.
As Flood Team Leader, Glen
Mallen explained, their exercise
had an added reality as it
coincided with flooding in Looe:
He said: “We had just settled in
for the night when I received a call
from the RNLI advising of the
developing situation in Looe.
“The team were mobilised and
started making their way there but
on route it became apparent that
the team wouldn't be required and
we returned to base.
St Ives set to benefit from the latest advanced technology
St Ives will be one of the first
lifeboat stations in the country to
receive an innovative new class
of RNLI lifeboat, the Shannon.
The new £1.5m lifeboat will
replace St Ives’s current RNLI
Mersey class lifeboat, The
Princess Royal, when she comes
to the end of her operational life
in around two years time.
Derek Hall, St Ives RNLI
Lifeboat Operations Manager,
said: “Everyone at St Ives lifeboat
station is delighted and extremely
honoured that we are to receive
one of the first of the new
Shannon class of lifeboats.
“Our former Coxswain Tommy
Cocking has been very much
involved in the trials and
development of both the new
lifeboat and the new launch and
recovery system and tractor
that’s been developed in conjunction
with it. The volunteer
crew previously assisted with the
extreme weather launch and
recovery trials at Hayle with the
existing experimental lifeboat and
“This was a good exercise in
always being ready to move. We
didn't rest up though and the
training started the following
morning at 7.30am.
During the afternoon and as part
of the exercise, I fully mobilised the
team to a simulated flood incident
in the centre of Hayle.
“The team moved all the
equipment from the Area Support
Centre and set up a Forward
Operating Base in the town and
immediately responded to a report
of two people cut off by the rising
flood water.
“Following this the team where
tasked to many more simulated
flood incidents designed to test
their flood skills and ability to work
as a team.
“During the deployment the team
were re tasked to a new area
requiring the whole operation to be
moved.
“The boats were relaunched and
tasked to search for a missing
individual, followed immediately by
a range of other rescues, at this
point in the pitch dark.
“The exercise ended at around
2.30am with the team having been
going for more than 19 hours.
“In a real deployment a backup
team would have been sent out to
relieve us but it is important to test
the resilience and capability of all
when tired and exhausted.”
The event was captured by RNLI
volunteer photographer Simon
Culliford as you can see from the
photographs on this page.
had the opportunity to experience
its water jet propulsion system,
so we’re extremely excited
to see the Shannon coming to
the station where we’re sure her
capabilities will enhance our ability
to save lives.”
The Shannon has been
designed in-house by RNLI naval
architects who have harnessed
cutting-edge technology to
ensure the new lifeboat meets
the demands of a modern rescue
service and to allow the charity’s
volunteer crew to do their lifesaving
work as safely as possible in
all weather conditions.
Like all RNLI all-weather lifeboats,
the Shannon is self-righting and it
will return to an upright position
in the event of a capsize during
extreme weather or sea conditions.
The new class of lifeboat is at
present undergoing full sea trials,
with the first operational Shannon
class lifeboats going on station
next year.
n The crew tackle rough waters during the exercise day
n The crew searching the waters during the exercise
n The Shannon at Exmouth with the launch and recovery
vehicle Picture: Nathan Williams
6

STOP PRESS: The
RNLI’s new lifeboat
house and slipway at
The Lizard, in
Cornwall, has been
nominated for a
national Construction
Excellence award.
Designed by architects
Poynton
Bradbury Wynter
Cole with consulting
engineers Royal
Haskoning, it has
already won the
award for Best
Technical Design in
the South West,
organised by the
region’s Local
Authority Building
Control.
16

n Youngsters from Truro’s Bosvigo School have fun while learning valuable safety lessons Picture: RNLI/EMMA HAINES
Youngsters learn vital safety lessons
YOUNGSTERS from across Cornwall took to the
waves with RNLI lifeguards this summer to learn
vital lessons about how to keep themselves safe
in the surf.
Dozens of children from schools across the
county took part in the charity’s unique Hit the
Surf scheme at Hayle, Fistral and Bude during
the summer months.
The programme saw RNLI lifeguards
delivering surf safety sessions combining theory
and practical lessons, which aim to make the
children more capable and confident in the
water.
The charity’s expert lifesavers covered
important subjects like the role of lifeguards;
key beach hazards; the meaning of the beach
safety flags; and what to do if they get into
difficulty in the water.
Surfing and bodyboarding are two of the top
causes of incidents dealt with by RNLI
lifeguards each season, so Hit the Surf aims to
tackle some of the common problems
associated with the activities.
RNLI Lifeguard manager Dave Gorman who
runs the programme said: “Hit the Surf is a fun
and active programme for the children to get
involved in but it also carries important
messages about how to stay safe in the surf.
Bodyboarding is particularly popular with
children so we want to make sure they have the
right skills and knowledge to be able to enjoy
themselves but keep safe at the same time.”
Up to 1,700 children, aged between eight
and 12, from 65 schools will have taken part in
the unique Hit the Surf scheme in 2012.
The programme complements the RNLI’s
annual summer beach safety campaign, which
encourages beach-goers to make safety a priority
when visiting the seaside by choosing a
lifeguarded beach.
9

n The interactive exhibition has proved a real hit
100,000 visitors so far
for Search and Rescue
THE blockbuster Search and
Rescue exhibition at the National
Maritime Museum Cornwall in
Falmouth is proving a huge hit with
visitors.
The exhibition, which opened on
March 16, takes visitors on an
interactive, stimulating and emotive
journey into the role of the maritime
rescue services, celebrating
the work of not only the RNLI, but
also the Royal Navy, Royal Air
Force and HM Coastguard.
Visitors have been able to get
up close to one of the RNLI’s
Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboats and
jump on board a beach quad bike
to become a virtual lifeguard, taking
action to ensure that swimmers
and surfers are between the correct
flags.
Visitors have also heard moving
accounts of real seaside rescues
from volunteer crewmen and
women and explored the history of
the charity’s fundraising efforts
through a fascinating assembly of
collection boxes spanning 150
years.
Milly Newman, Exhibition
Development Manager at the
Maritime Museum, says: “Since
opening in the spring over 100,000
people have been through our
doors and enjoyed this exhibition.
“Search and Rescue seems to
be a topic that truly captures people’s
imaginations and the exhibition
is regularly cited as the
biggest ‘wow’ moment by our visitors.
“We have also held a number of
Meet the Crew events throughout
the year and these have proved
immensely popular.
“Visitors love having the opportunity
to meet and hear first-hand
accounts from the heroic men and
women who risk their lives at sea
to save others.”
Search and Rescue at the
National Maritime Museum
Cornwall runs until the end of
2013 and will see a number of
new features added in the coming
months to enhance the exhibition
in its second year.
There is also series of lectures
supporting the exhibition and for
more information please visit
www.nmmc.co.uk or call 01326
313388.
11

n The Cornwall recipients of various awards, presented at the RNLI College in Poole Picture: RNLI/Simon Culliford
Cornwall RNLI volunteers
honoured with ceremony
EACH year the RNLI recognises
the commitment of their volunteers
who support the charity at a variety
of awards ceremonies throughout
Cornwall.
In one such ceremony held at
the Institutions headquarters in
Poole, Dorset, 29 individuals were
awarded at a special ceremony.
A wide range of volunteer roles
were recognised and a number of
stations, guilds and branches
represented, with some individuals
showing more than 30 years of
commitment to the charity that
saves lives at sea.
Among the stations, guilds and
branches represented were Bude,
Falmouth, Hayle, Launceston,
Looe, Padstow, Penlee, Polruan,
Porthleven, Rock, St Agnes, St
Germans, St Ives, and Sennen
Cove.
The charity’s fundraisers,
supporters and operational volunteers
received awards at the RNLI
College from Roger Jackson,
volunteer RNLI Helmsman at
Exmouth lifeboat station who was
this year a recipient of the RNLI’s
Bronze Medal for Gallantry.
At another ceremony held in
Looe, eight lifeboat volunteers were
presented with awards by the
charity for their long service and
dedication.
Lifeboat Operations Manager
David Haines, Chair Robbie
Alberry, fundraisers Lynda Damms,
Anne Hodgkinson, Janet Ward,
Margaret Fiddik, Allan Newman
and David Parker were each presented
with an accolade by RNLI
Area Manager Dave Nicoll, along
with John Evans from the Rame
Peninsula RNLI branch, who also
received an award at the
ceremony.
Dave Nicoll said of both of the
presentations ceremonies that it
was a great way of thanking all of
the volunteers who work tirelessly
to support and raise funds for the
charity.
He said: “Volunteers are the
lifeblood of our charity, we simply
couldn’t do without them, and this
event was all about saying a very
big thank you to them for their
continued support.
“This year’s award winners
represent a wide range of volunteer
roles from fundraisers, to those
who are part of the lifeboat station
management group or offer special
skills like photography.
“Whoever they are and whatever
they do, they perform an essential
service for our charity.
“The courage and commitment
of the RNLI’s crews is well known
but we must never forget that our
crews couldn’t perform their
lifesaving role without the
dedication of a large band of
volunteers who are often hard at
work behind the scenes.”
This year also saw the RNLI’s
operational volunteer lifeboat crew
members receive the well deserved
recognition of Her Majesty the
Queen with the award of a
Diamond Jubilee Medal to members
of the armed forces and
emergency services, along with
living holders of the Victoria Cross
and George Cross and some of
the other members of the Royal
n Sennen Cove RNLI Coxswain Terry George being presented
with his Diamond Jubilee medal by Tamsin Thomas, RNLI Public
Relations Manager Picture: RNLI/Tim Stevens
Household. This award will be
given to operational lifeboat crew
members that have more than five
years service saving lives at sea as
of February 6, 2012.
At the time of the jubilee
Secretary of State for Health
Jeremy Hunt, said: “The Queen
has dedicated her life to the
service of this country and the
Diamond Jubilee will offer us all the
opportunity to celebrate the
commitment, loyalty and faithful-
ness with which she has led the
country across the last sixty years.
“It is right that we reward those
people who, like The Queen, also
dedicate their lives to public good
and who represent the very best of
the British spirit.
“I hope the official medal will
serve as a mark of thanks to all
those who give so much in the
name of society and public service
and I extend my congratulations to
all the recipients.”
13

Remember the RNLI in your will
THE lifesaving result of leaving a
gift to the RNLI in your will is
poignantly illustrated in this picture
taken during Remember the RNLI
Week this year and featuring a
gathering of all those involved in
saving lives at sea.
Across the border in Devon, the
Exmouth RNLI team hosted a
meeting, which brought together
the extraordinary people who make
up the legacy chain, from the supporter
who pledges to leave money
in his will, to the RNLI Coxswain
and the casualty he saved.
The picture shows just how
important legacies are to the charity
that funds six out of every ten
lifeboat launches using gifts left in
wills.
Featured in the picture (from left
to right) are those who make up
the legacy chain:
n Don Hodgkinson has been an
RNLI volunteer at Exmouth RNLI
for 14 years taking on both
fundraising and operational roles
and now the volunteer Boathouse
Manager.
Without fundraising volunteers
like Don the money wouldn’t be
there to provide the lifeboats,
equipment and training needed by
the volunteer crew.
n Roger Dawe is Chairman of
the Norman Family Charitable Trust
who very generously donated
£74,000 to fund the crew changing
rooms at the Exmouth Lifeboat
Station.
n Peter Harrison from southeast
Cornwall is a life long supporter
of the RNLI who has already
pledged to leave money to the
Caroline Q and
the hungry sailors
WELL known TV celebrity chef
Dick Strawbridge and his son
James are currently sailing the
coast of Cornwall visiting food
producers and cooking their delicious
meals for different groups
and organisations as part of their
upcoming ITV series “Hungry
Sailors”.
Recently they moored up in
Falmouth where they took part in
the Oyster Festival before continuing
their journey west.
On Tuesday 6 October Dick
and James visited the lifeboat
station at The Lizard.
Having had a guided tour of
the new station they were invited
to join the crew out on a routine
exercise.
On their return to the station
Dick and James prepared a
n Nothing could illustrate the importance of legacies for the charity more than this picture, which features
everyone involved in the legacy chain, from the donors to the crew
Picture: RNLI/Simon Culliford.
charity in his will. His generosity will
ensure future funding for the work
of the RNLI.
n Sarah Galliford and Richard
Ridout from Topsham had to call
on the services of the Exmouth
RNLI team in June when their
yacht grounded on rocks in heavy
seas.
n Tim Mock is the Coxswain at
Exmouth RNLI and at the front line
of the RNLI’s lifesaving operations.
sumptuous dinner of Chilli Con
Carne for ten members of the
volunteer lifeboat crew and shore
crew.
The following week Andrew
was then invited to join Dick and
James along with a number of
local food producers in Coverack
where Dick and James again
cooked for their guests, this time
to be marked for their efforts.
Meanwhile, it was television’s
Caroline Quentin who was filming
at Padstow this summer for her
next series of Caroline Quentin’s
Cornwall that will be aired in
2013.
A big supporter of the RNLI,
Caroline filmed the Padstow team
launching for her first series but
this time round took up the offer
to join the crew volunteers on
It is he who uses the equipment
and training funded by legacies to
ensure his volunteer crew members
continue to save lives at sea.
Kate Ireland, the RNLI’s legacy
manager in the south west, says
it’s important people understand
how the legacy chain works;
She said: “Every gift left to the
RNLI in a will is a lifesaver. Small or
large, from boots to lifeboats, they
all help our volunteers stay safe
and save more lives at sea.
“To illustrate this we brought all
those involved in the work of the
RNLI together to show how a legacy
can support the volunteer team
that save lives at sea, from the
fundraisers, to the casualties and
the coxswain.
n Above: Dick and James cook for the station crew
n Bottom right: Caroline prepares for her night at sea
one of their regular exercise
nights.
Despite going a little green at
one stage, Caroline loved every
minute of the visit and even took
time to help clean the lifeboat
once it had been recovered back
up the slipway and in to the
boathouse.
15

Family donates £250 to
RNLI after boy’s rescue
RNLI lifeguards at Whitsand Bay
have received a letter of thanks
and a cheque for £250 from the
family of a young boy who was
treated for a suspected spinal
injury by the charity’s lifesavers
earlier this summer.
Tom Hill, from Middlesex, wrote
to the lifeguard team last month
thanking them for their
professionalism in helping his fouryear-old
son Alistair, who suffered
a suspected spinal injury when he
slipped on rocks at Tregonhawke
Beach on Sunday, July 29.
Lifeguards provided emergency
medical care to the young boy with
the assistance of Tamar
Coastguard and paramedics.
The boy was airlifted to hospital
by 771 Squadron based at RNAS
Culdrose at Helston.
In his letter Tom said: “I just
wanted to drop you a note to say
thank you for the amazing
response and service we received
from your organisation. The 771
Squadron from Culdrose, HM
Coastguard and the South
Western Ambulance Service were
16
AS a charity, the Royal National Lifeboat
Institution survives through receiving money
raised by individuals and organisations.
Running a lifeboat station is a costly affair
when one considers all the equipment that is
needed to allow the launch of either an allweather
or inshore lifeboat along with its
volunteer crews.
So when people make special gestures it is
always to the delight of the charity.
Recently, well-known Sennen Cove
resident Anita George was appointed to the
position of president of Penzance Rotary Club
and she chose her local RNLI lifeboat station
at Sennen Cove as one of her charities for
her year in office.
Having only been elected in July, Anita set
about raising funds to replace the dry suits
worn by the inshore lifeboat volunteers when
launched on a mission.
Amazingly, only six weeks later, Anita
presented coxswain Terry George with a
cheque for £957. The money will allow the
station to buy three much-needed
replacement suits.
At a gathering outside the Sennen station
on Sunday, September 2, Terry explained
how grateful the crew members were to Anita
for all her hard work. He also emphasised the
importance of the inshore lifeboat in saving
lives in the cove, after the craft was launched
recently in heavy seas, with her volunteer
crew, to rescue an angler from an isolated
outcrop of rock off Pendeen
n A ‘thank you’ collage created by Alistair and Cameron
also involved and the
professionalism and dovetailing of
the services was exceptional.
Please pass on not only my thanks
but also Alistair’s to all those
involved at the RNLI.”
Included in Tom’s letter was a
cheque to the RNLI for £250 and a
photo collage and drawing done
by Alistair and his brother
Cameron.
Cameron wrote: “Thank you for
n Cameron’s note of
appreciation to the
emergency services
helping my brother Ali when he
hurt his back.”
RNLI lifeguard supervisor Chris
Wafer said: ‘The whole team was
delighted to receive Tom’s letter,
Alistair’s drawing and Cameron’s
note, and especially their generous
donation.
“We were concerned about
Alistair after his fall but it was great
to hear that he’s made a full
recovery. Our thanks go to Tom
and his family for their praise and
kind words.”
Sennen Cove RNLI dry suit presentation
n The team at Sennen Cove RNLI lifeboat station accept a donation for new dry suits
(being worn in the background by some of the crew volunteers) from Anita George

RNLI duo in cooking test
A BIT of healthy competition was served up as
the dish of the day on Sunday, September 30,
when an RNLI volunteer and an RNLI lifeguard
went head-to-head in a cooking contest.
Coxswain of Falmouth lifeboat, Mark Pollard,
was pitched against Newquay RNLI lifeguard
supervisor Tim Fallowfield in a culinary
competition at this year’s Cornwall Food and
Drink Festival held in Truro.
The pair worked closely under the top
guidance of their chef partners Neil Haydock,
from the Watergate Bay Hotel, and Chris Eden,
from the Driftwood Restaurant, near Portscatho.
Each team had to prepare sardine and crab
dishes from scratch using locally sourced
ingredients. Both Mark and Tim got stuck in,
despite Mark’s strong dislike to picking out crab
meat!
Spurred on by a large audience of spectators,
the teams cracked on with their cooking,
finishing roughly within the 40-minute time
allocation. Both dishes looked scrumptious and
it was down to the lucky panel of judges to do
the taste testing.
After much deliberation, the winners by one
point were Mark Pollard and his chef partner
Chris Eden. Mark was presented with a prize of
a fish filleting knife and both were able to enjoy
the leftovers of their delicious dishes.
n Congratulations to Mark, Tim, Chris and
Neil for their involvement and a big thank you to
the Cornwall Food and Drink Festival organisers
and to Cornish Mutual for choosing the RNLI as
their charity and therefore inviting us to be a
part of the event and especially for holding a
collection for us over the three days.
n All smiles from the competing RNLI ‘chefs’ and their mentors
19

Single help for RNLI
IRISH BAND NINE Lies are
set to release a Christmas
charity single raising money
for the RNLI.
The single, named
Tragedy, will be officially
launched on December 1,
and is on general release
from December 3.
It will be available in all
major online retailers, and will
comprise of the track
Tragedy and the video of the
track.
Nine Lies are donating the
entire sales money to the
lifesaving charity, the RNLI,
and not keeping a penny for
themselves.
This means that the band
will not see any profit, but
this is for a great cause, and
Nine Lies really think that the
RNLI deserves it, as does
their manager who lives and
works in West Cornwall.
In their news
announcement about the single
the band say - 'Just for a
moment...
“Imagine sitting round your
dinner table at Christmas,
pulling crackers, shoveling
down loads of hot tasty
turkey and all the trimmings,
snow falling gently outside.
(Well ok, freezing rain pouring
outside, this is the UK and
Ireland we are talking about.)
“Whilst you are doing that,
somewhere in the UK and
Ireland, a lifeboat crew is
being called out on a
"shout", their lifeboat
bouncing and rolling on the
rough seas to rescue someone
in trouble.
“The crews of the lifeboats
are volunteers, they don't get
paid to do this - if you were
asked to work on Christmas
Day - you'd be asking for a
lot of money to compensate
you - or you'd flatly say "No
way - not on Christmas day"
- wouldn't you?
“But these people just
don't think like that - they will
go out regardless of the day,
time, or weather to save
people - quite often seeing
things no one should ever
see, but they do, and they
deserve the best Christmas
present that we can collectively
give to say thank you
as a nation (British or Irish),
so go out and buy this
single, giving them a
Christmas No.1.”
Search for the band on
Facebook for more details.
Wilko! Store steps in to boost
fundraising in the south west
THE RNLI is delighted that
Wilkinsons stores in the
south west have selected
to support the lifesaving
charity for 2012 and 2013.
Stores across the region,
including Redruth, St
Austell and Falmouth in
Cornwall, are raising
money for the charity
through a host of fun
fundraising activities which
are taking place on the
same weekend every
month. Events include fun
runs, auctions and leg
waxing, to wearing wellies
and lifejackets to work and
offering customers the
chance to meet crew at their stations.
The partnership kicked off at the end of
May and already a fantastic £24,000 has
been raised, far exceeding the company’s
annual fundraising target. They are now aiming
to raise £60,000 by May 2013 – an
incredible amount of money which will go a
long way to helping the RNLI continue saving
lives at sea.
In addition to the fundraising, employees
have committed to volunteering and building
relationships with both branches and stations
and supporting their activities. So far
employees have given just under 80 hours
of their time to support the RNLI.
The photo shows RNLI mascot Stormy
Stan at the opening of Wilkinsons in
Falmouth on June 21 and a fundraising display
in one of the stores.
20

n Above – Looe RNLI at Bodmin Sainsbury’s.
Right - Coxswain Andrew Putt with SOS letters Picture: Holly de Roy
Date set for SOS Day
THE RNLI’s annual SOS Day will be on Friday,
January 25, 2013 and this year Cornwall’s
fundraising branches and guilds are being
encouraged to use the day to raise money to
help fund the running costs of the county’s 14
RNLI lifeboat stations, including St Mary’s on the
Isles of Scilly. So look out for SOS events,
usually promoted under the SOS acronym
like Slurp Our Soup, Soap Our Saloons or
See Our Services.
Here’s what volunteers got up to in 2012.
n At Looe the team completed a bike ride
from Padstow Lifeboat Station back to Looe.
n At Penlee they also got on their bikes to
ride from Plymouth back to Newlyn.
n The RNLI staff from our support base at
Saltash held a mini lifeboat day in Plymouth
city centre.
n At Sennen Cove RNLI they did a morse
codeathon for 24 hours.
n In Hayle the lifeguards spent the day
washing cars.
n At The Lizard the local school visited the
station to sell their homemade cakes and
buns
n At Saltash the fundraising volunteers
served delicious soup.
Sounds like fun? Then why not join in and
either attend one of the events already being
organised – or plan one of your own.
21

n Operations director Michael Vlasto
presents Marcus with his vellum
Picture: RNLI/Tim Stevens
n The five RNLI lifeguards receive their award from Alison Saunders
Picture: RNLI/Tim Stevens
Five Cornish lifeguards
receive top RNLI award
Five RNLI lifeguards have been
presented with the Alison
Saunders Lifeguarding Award –
one of the charity’s top honours –
for the rescue of a bodyboarder in
dangerous seas at Porthtowan in
September 2011.
The Alison Saunders
Lifeguarding Award was
established in 2009.
Sponsored and presented by
former RNLI deputy chairperson
Alison Saunders, the award is
given annually for the most
meritorious rescue by RNLI lifeguards
during the previous season.
RNLI lifeguards Josh Ward, Ben
Sowter and Adam Bunt and
former lifeguards Chris Lowry and
Marcus Lascelles were presented
with the award at a special
ceremony at Porthtowan by Alison
Saunders in front of their friends
and family.
The event also provided an
opportunity for RNLI Operations
Director Michael Vlasto to officially
present Marcus with The Thanks
of the institution inscribed on vellum,
the fourth highest award
given by the charity, granted to
him in November in recognition of
his bravery in performing the rescue
in huge surf and strong winds.
Josh, Chris, Ben and Adam all
received a letter of appreciation
from the charity recognising their
efforts.
The rescue took place on
Sunday, September 10 last year,
when Marcus was alerted to the
bodyboarder, Tom Durrant, who
was towards the northern end of
the beach struggling to cope in
large, six to eight foot waves.
After paddling out to him,
Marcus as forced to abandon his
rescue board to cling onto Tom.
In very challenging conditions,
Marcus helped the casualty
scramble onto the rocks, despite
the fact the pair were washed
back into the water on several
occasions.
The pair eventually reached
safety, where Marcus was treated
for cuts and bruising.
Dickon Berriman, RNLI lifeguard
manager, said; “On top of the
recognition the RNLI lifeguards
have already received from the
charity, it’s a great honour for the
team to receive the prestigious
Alison Saunders Lifeguard Award.
“It was an extremely brave
rescue carried out by Marcus with
the back up of his colleagues, and
illustrates the part the whole team
of lifeguards on the beach play to
ensure bathers and water users
are safe. Conditions on the day
were very demanding and the
casualty was very lucky.”
In addition to receiving the
Alison Saunders Lifeguarding
Award, each lifeguard was given a
share of £500 to be used to further
their lifeguard training experience.
22

n Lifeguards Dan Latham and Alex Pleasants
Picture: RNLI/JAMES UREN
Lifeguards face
challenging time
RNLI lifeguards in Cornwall had
another busy summer helping
dozens of people in need of
assistance on the county’s 56
patrolled beaches.
August saw some particularly
challenging conditions on the
north Cornish coast, with several
rescues taking place on the 16th
due to big seas and strong
winds.
At Porthtowan a 44-year-old
man was surfing when he got
caught out in the conditions and
swiftly carried round to a rocky
area of the beach. The inshore
rescue boat was launched and
very quickly retrieved the
casualty from the water and
brought him back to shore.
Martyn Ward, RNLI supervisor,
said it was a superb rescue.
“This was one of the best
rescues I’ve ever seen, carried
out in extremely challenging
conditions. At one stage we
couldn’t see the inshore rescue
boat as it disappeared in the
troughs between the waves.”
On the same day further down
the coast at Godrevy lifeguards
rescued four people seen
clinging to a kayak close to a
reef.
Two teenage girls on holiday
from Manchester and
Macclesfield had been
snorkelling when they became
overwhelmed by the conditions.
Their brother and father, who
were on a kayak nearby, tried to
help when they capsized. All four
casualties were now in the water
in a six-foot swell and strong
winds, being washed onto rocks.
RNLI lifeguard Josh Harris
responded with a rescue board
and paddled out to the scene,
approximately 300m to the north
of the bathing area, whilst RNLI
lifeguards Dan Latham and Alex
Pleasants, from neighbouring
Gwithian Beach, responded on a
rescue water craft.
The casualties were being
swept further onto the reef so
Josh paddled into their location
and put two female casualties on
the rescue board.
He then paddled them into
deeper water where the rescue
water craft could get to them
safely. RNLI lifeguard Alex
secured one of the girls to a
rescue tube, and Dan, who was
driving the rescue water craft,
transferred the girls back one at
a time safely to shore.
The remaining two casualties
got back on their kayak and
paddled back to the beach,
under the lifeguards’ supervision.
The casualties were checked
over by RNLI lifeguards at the
beach and found to have suffered
no injuries.
At Perranporth, RNLI lifeguards
Adam Garland and James Kirton
launched the inshore rescue boat
at 3.45pm to help a teenager
who had been swept behind
Chapel Rock in the rough
conditions. He was brought back
to shore unharmed.
Lifeguards across the county’s
beaches were busy all season
keeping people safe. They dealt
with a host of incidents from
weaver fish stings to major
rescues and medical
emergencies. They are taking a
well-earned break over the
winter, mostly in much sunnier
climes, but will be reappearing
on the beaches in early spring for
the start of the 2013 season.
Check the weather forecast...
www.thepacket.co.uk
23

n The Royal National Lifeboat institution SOS Day. RNLI members in action at their fundraising car wash which took place at Hayle
Retail Park at the end of January. To find out more about SOS Day turn to page 21. Picture: Portreath Studio
n The Lizard lifeboat in action
24

A busy 2012 for RNLI
DESPITE poor weather the
charity’s volunteers in Cornwall
have been involved in a wide range
of activities, from celebrating the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to
involvement in the 2012 Olympics,
as well as carrying out dramatic
rescues in challenging conditions.
Although nationally the figures
show a two per cent reduction in
rescues between June and
August, in the South West there
has been a slight rise and, due to
the unseasonable weather, there
have been some extremely difficult
rescues.
The busiest lifeboat stations in
Cornwall were Falmouth with 45
calls, Penlee with 24 and Newquay
with 23. But not all incidents
happen when the weather is poor
- things can also happen when
conditions are perfect for boating.
One particular occasion was in
July when both Falmouth lifeboats
were tasked to a medical
evacuation of a 46-year-old angler
who became unwell while fishing
on a charter boat in Gerrans Bay.
The male was found to be semiconscious
so a decision was made
to airlift him to hospital by a rescue
helicopter from RNAS Culdrose.
After being placed on a stretcher
by the lifeboat crew he was
transferred to the helicopter before
being flown to RCH (Treliske).
A number of incidents have seen
stations working together to carry
out rescues. The weather played
its part in August when strong
offshore winds saw the St Agnes
Inshore lifeboat and the RNLI
lifeguards work together to rescue
two kayakers who had been blown
offshore and capsized. Once
secured by the lifeguards, who had
paddled out to assist them, the
inshore lifeboat was launched to
bring them safely back to the
beach.
In another incident in September
both the Sennen Cove and St Ives
all-weather lifeboats were tasked
to search for a traditional sailing
lugger Ibis after it had lost its
engine and had its sails blown out
in the fresh onshore north-easterly
wind. The Sennen Cove crew
located the vessel at anchor in
Morvah Bay a mile east of
Portheras Cove only about a cable
from the cliff. The Ibis was then
towed to Newlyn by the Sennen
Cove lifeboat and St Ives returned
to station.
In another challenging incident
Bude inshore lifeboat and Water
Rescue Craft were tasked to a
report of two people in the water.
On arrival at the scene the lifeboat
crews recovered the skipper from
the water, while the other
managed to scramble ashore
unaided. They then discovered the
local fishing boat in which the men
had been travelling was out of
control after it had been hit by a
rogue wave throwing both the
occupants into the water and was
26
n A casualty is airlifted from a charter boat in
Gerrans Bay
n The Sennen Cove and St Ives all-weather lifeboats
work together in the search and recovery of the Ibis
going round and round in circles at
full speed.
The inshore lifeboat crew
managed to get alongside the vessel
and slowed it down using rope
techniques aimed at snagging the
propellor before placing one crewman
aboard who then regained
control of the boat.
In one of the saddest incidents,
in October, three Cornish lifeboats
were launched to search for the
31ft yacht Seagair with one female
aboard reported overdue while on
passage from Mousehole to
Bideford, north Devon. After an
extensive search of the coast by
Penlee, Sennen Cove and St Ives
all-weather lifeboats, who were
also joined by rescue helicopters
from RNAS Culdrose and RMB
Chivenor and the Appledore allweather
lifeboat. There was no
sign of the yacht until wreckage
started to wash up in Sennen
Cove which was identified from the
missing yacht.
In one of the most dramatic
rescues, in August the Padstow
all-weather lifeboat diverted from a
n The St Agnes inshore lifeboat is tasked to rescue
two kayakers
routine exercise when it
intercepted a mayday call from a
capsized yacht half a mile off
Trevose Head, Padstow. The yacht
was found to have righted itself
n The Bude RNLI team work to rescue two
people thrown into the sea by a rogue wave
n The Penlee all-weather lifeboat battles through heavy seas
but not before both the crew had
been washed overboard. The 81year-old
male owner had managed
to get back aboard the yacht but
the other crew member was

n The Padstow lifeboat crew in action off
Trevose Head in August
n Newquay’s inshore lifeboats speed to the rescue of a woman
who had become trapped in a cave by the incoming tide
n A Penlee lifeboat attaches a line to a stricken yacht before
towing it off the beach
washed away. Once on the scene
the lifeboat placed two crew members
aboard the yacht and then
carried out a search for the missing
man, who was located very
quickly. A rescue helicopter from
RNAS Culdrose then airlifted both
yachtsmen to hospital while the
lifeboat towed the yacht back to
Padstow.
In September, St Mary’s allweather
lifeboat undertook the
longest journey when it was
n The St Mary’s all-weather lifeboat undertook the
longest journey during an incident in September
tasked to a 37ft yacht with an 81year-old
male aboard 65 miles
south west of the Isles of Scilly.
The vessel was on passage from
the Azores to Falmouth when the
single-handed sailor suddenly
began to feel unwell and was also
running short of supplies. A
Russian warship the Vice Admiral
Kulakov stood by the vessel until
the lifeboats arrival. The yacht was
towed back to St Mary’s.
In October both Newquay
n Fowey lifeboat crew in action
at Silvermines, Mevagissey
n The Lizard lifeboat goes to the assistance of the Charisma
inshore lifeboats were tasked to a
report of three people in the water,.
Once on scene the Coastguard
team on the beach guided the
lifeboats into the surf in between
sets of waves to recover the
casualties into the lifeboat. It
transpired that a woman had gone
into a cave to retrieve her dog but
had been caught out by the incoming
tide.
Seeing her plight, two local
brothers, both qualified lifeguards,
had stripped down to their
underwear and swam out to rescue
the woman. The volunteer lifeboat
crews praised the efforts of the two
men, certain the woman would
have drowned without their swift
response.
Often lifeboat calls occur to the
most conscientious boat owners. In
one incident The Lizard lifeboat
launched to the commercial fishing
vessel Charisma which was enroute
to its home port having come
straight out of a refit. Off Mullion the
boat’s gearbox started to cause
concern and so the owner asked
for assistance. The lifeboat arrived
on scene to find the vessel still
motoring toward Newlyn managing
to make the safety of the harbour
under its own power having been
escorted by the lifeboat.
In September, both Fowey
lifeboats were tasked to a report of
a 10ft inflatable boat with one
person onboard that had become
swamped the conditions at
Silvermines, Mevagissey. The
inshore lifeboat attempted to
recover the casualty from the
beach but was overwhelmed by the
heavy surf in the east-southeasterly
force 3 to 4 winds. The
Fowey all-weather lifeboat towed
the inshore boat off the beach
taking the male aboard and
transferring him to a waiting
ambulance at Fowey Lifeboat
Station.
All lifeboat incidents are not just
to people and boats as in
September the Rock inshore
lifeboat was launched to recover a
young dog called Beauty that had
gone over the 20-metre cliff at St
Saviours Point, Padstow. Volunteer
lifeboat crew member James
Batters climbed up the cliff and
rescued the increasingly distressed
pup, reuniting it with its owners
who were waiting on a nearby
beach.
In October both Penlee lifeboats
were tasked to a 30ft yacht with
three people onboard that had
gone aground on the entrance to
Penzance Harbour in very rough
seas. The yacht had left Penzance
earlier on passage to Weston
Super Mare but was attempting to
return to the safety of the harbour
when one of the crew was taken ill
with seasickness. The Penlee
inshore lifeboat managed to get a
line aboard the yacht and tow it off
the beach while the all-weather
lifeboat stood by, later attaching a
second line to the casualty for the
journey back into the harbour.
27

Six decades of experience at Porthtowan
IT was a family affair on Porthtowan beach on
Friday, November 2 as three members of the
same family made up the RNLI lifeguard team
for the day.
Martyn Ward, his brother Drustan and his
son Josh were on duty at the beach for the
first time as a trio. Between them they have
an incredible 60 years of lifeguarding experience.
Martyn, 52, began lifeguarding in 1977 at
the age of 18 under the council and hasn’t
looked back since. He became an RNLI
Lifeguard Supervisor when the charity took
over lifeguarding in 2001.
He said it’s a way of life: “Lifeguarding is a
great job – it gives you a good lifestyle, keeps
you fit and you’re outside most of the time.”
His brother Drustan, 42, is also a supervisor
for the RNLI. He did his first lifeguard
season in 1987, before taking a break and
returning to it in 1995. He said: “The beach is
an amazing place to work and it’s been a
pleasure over the years to help guide people
into the safest and most enjoyable area of
the beach. A lot of the work we do gives us a
good personal sense of wellbeing and
achievement as we’re able to help people.”
The youngest member of the Ward lifeguard
family is 26-year-old Josh. He took up
lifeguarding in 2005 and is now a senior lifeguard
in Carrick in the summer and a lifeguard
in Australia in the winter. He set off on
November 4 ahead of their summer patrols
and will return in time for the start of the
2013 lifeguard season in Cornwall.
So how did the day go for the Ward trio?
Despite stormy seas and a westerly wind of
force 6, they had a busy morning with a lot of
bathers and after a quiet afternoon ended the
day with another flurry of activity. Drustan
says there were no rescues but they were
ready for action.
“It was great being on duty with my broth-
Cornwall RNLI - winter events 2012/13
n Porthleven and District RNLI invite you to
Share Our Supper to mark Burns Night and the
RNLI’s annual SOS Day on Friday, January 25,
2013.
The event, a supper with quiz and raffle, will
be held at the Harbour Inn, Porthleven with a
7pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets are £17.95 each,
to include entry in to the quiz.
Please wear something Scottish! It doesn’t
have to be a full outfit, but at the very least a
shawl, stoll, tie or even a piece of tartan ribbon
attached to your clothing. Anyone not entering
the spirit of the dress code will be ‘fined’!
For more information and to book your tickets
please contact either Gill Moore on 01326
561718 or Jean Ashton on 01326 561795.
n Port Isaac RNLI invites you to join them at
their Christmas Market in the Village Hall on
Saturday, December 1. The event starts at
10.30am and runs until 1.30pm offering stalls,
mulled wine, a live performance by the popular
ladies choir Gulls Aloud and a visit by Father
Christmas.
There’ll also be a chance to win the draw for
the stunning original painting Beating the Storm
BY WELL KNOWN ARTIST Sian Fletcher illustrating
an historic lifeboat rescue carried out by
Port Isaac RNLI back in 1877.
n The Ward family on duty at Porthtowan
on Friday they are (from left to right) Josh
Ward, Drustan by the door of the vehicle
and Martyn. The second photo shows
the men around the red and yellow flag
Picture: RNLI/Dickon Berriman
er and my nephew. I know how they work
and have total confidence in them so we
were ready for anything, and actually the day
had the potential to be really busy because of
the conditions if nothing else.”
Josh says it was a good day:
“I’ve been on the beach with Martyn and
Drustan all my life and we’ve always got on
well so it was a fun day that just flew by.”
n St Agnes RNLI Guild are holding their annual
Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 24
from 10am until midday at the Church Hall. The
event is a golden opportunity to grab some
early Christmas presents and help save lives at
sea.
Then on Saturday, December 8 it’s the Punch
and Pies event at St Agnes Hotel from 11am to
1pm.
n Padstow RNLI have four events in the first
quarter of 2013 to tell you about. On Saturday,
January 19 they’ll be celebrating SOS day with
a Soup or Sausage event at the Old Ship Hotel
from 10am onwards. The Padstow RNLI AGM is
on Monday, February 11 in the Church Rooms,
Church Street, Padstow at 7pm. On Friday,
February 15 everyone is invited back to the Old
Ship Hotel for a Curry and Quiz evening, 7pm
for a 7.30pm start. Finally Sunday, March 31 will
see egg rolling for the RNLI at midday in Duke
Street.
n Looe RNLI Branch invite you to their
Christmas Carol Concert at 7.30pm on
Wednesday, December 5 at the Looe Guildhall.
The evening will be led by the Pelynt Male Voice
Choir. Tickets are available from the RNLI shop
in Looe, and for latecomers on the door, at £6 a
head to include refreshments.
n By popular demand, two outstanding musical
groups are to perform together again in
Cornwall for the RNLI.
Following the first performance of its kind in
Cornwall in January 2012, the Band of Her
Majesty’s Royal Marines Plymouth and the
Plymouth Gilbert and Sullivan Fellowship, joined
by members of the Mevagissey Male Choir, are
to appear together again in Truro.
They’ll be appearing in another spectacular
concert “The Magic of Musicals”, and one not
to be missed, in the Hall for Cornwall at 2.30pm
on Sunday, January 27 2013.
Tickets are already selling fast and are available
from the Hall for Cornwall at £16, with £15
concessions for seniors and children. A £1
Theatre Fund payment is added to each ticket
sold. To contact the Hall for Cornwall Box Office
call 01872 262466 or visit them at
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
n The Lizard RNLI lifeboat fundraising team are
holding a Carolaire at the lifeboat station on
Friday, December 7at 7pm. The St Keverne
choir will be performing along with the
Landewednack school choir. Admission is free
and there will be refreshments. The service will
be led by the Rev Deirdre Mackrill.
All are welcome.
28

Gold star treatment for
Olympic medal winner
OLYMPIC gold medal winning rower Helen Glover
was a guest of the Penlee RNLI lifeboat crew
when they ended one of their regular exercises by
delivering her to Newlyn for the start of a
triumphant open-topped bus procession.
The victory parade took the rower to
Penzance where she was greeted by thousands
of fans. Helen and her rowing partner, Heather
Stanning, took gold in the 2012 Olympic pairs
rowing final, winning Britain’s first gold of the
Games.
They also made history by becoming Britain’s
first ever female rowing gold medallists – a huge
achievement for the duo who only joined forces
two years ago.
The parade ended at Helen’s former
secondary school, Humphry Davy, where she is
remembered as a girl who always involved
herself in sport.
Penlee RNLI coxswain, Patch Harvey, said it
was an honour to share the wheel with an
Olympic star: “This was her first time back in
Cornwall since she won the gold medal and we
were delighted to be able to honour her
achievement by delivering her to Newlyn by
sea,” said Patch.
“It seemed so appropriate, given that she
won her medal on the water. We all celebrated
when our local Olympian did so well, and this
was our way of saying congratulations.”
You can see by our picture, right, that the day
started very wet but, fortunately, the weather
dried up for the open topped bus ride!
Beauty of a rescue for Rock RNLI
A YOUNG dog called Beauty is happily
bouncing around thanks to Rock RNLI
volunteer James Batters.
The pup had managed to get stuck half
way up a cliff in September and, when it
started to get upset, James climbed out
of the lifeboat and up the cliff face to
rescue it.
Beauty had gone over the 20-metre
cliff between St Saviour’s Point and
Padstow and was stuck at the halfway
point.
The Rock RNLI volunteers launched
the D class inshore lifeboat Rusper but
initially could not get up the cliff that was
covered in brambles and gorse and had
an unstable surface.
James Batters, the RNLI helmsman at
Rock, recalled: “We decided to call the
Coastguard cliff rescue team but then the
dog started to sound very distressed so I
made the decision to climb up the cliff. I
had to go a good 15 metres up to reach
Beauty.
“I was then able to safely bring him
down the cliff and deliver him back to his
owners who were on a nearby beach.”
RNLI lifeboat crews are sometimes
called on by the coastguards to assist in
the recovery of dogs to ensure distressed
owners do not put themselves in danger
trying to rescue their pets.
n Under instruction from coxswain Patch Harvey, Olympian Helen Glover takes a turn at
the helm of the Penlee Lifeboat Picture: PHIL MONKTON
n RNLI helmsman James Batters safely back on the beach with Beauty
29