WHITSTABLE
LIFEBOAT
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LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS
Christmas fair contributes to lifeboat funds
With
£1053 raised for lifeboat funds Branch Chairman Diane Lamberton Said that “it
had been a very successful morning. We had the usual range of stalls selling
cakes, produce and the like as well as a raffle, a handicraft stall and a
Christmas game for the children, as well as our RNLI souvenirs and Christmas
cards on sale in our coffee shop, and our volunteers had a very busy time. Our
thanks go to all our customers and those who helped run the event for making it
so successful”.
Eloise
Green (two) and Jack Dinley (three) at the annual Christmas Fair
at the Whitstable Lifeboat station on Saturday morning.
Funds
raised for lifeboat in yachtsman’s memory
Ian
Mills, a committee member at the club, presented the money to members of the
Whit stable Lifeboat Station at the boathouse on Sunday morning (30th October). Mr
Mills said “Tim, who was 47, was leading the race off Seasalter when he
suffered the heart attack and will be missed by his family, friends and members
of the Seasalter Sailing Club and it gives us great pleasure to donate the money
to the lifeboat in his memory”. Whitstable
Lifeboat Branch Chairman Mrs Diane Lamberton said “We thank Seasalter Sailing
Club for their very kind donation in memory of Mr Seymour and they can be
assured that the monies will play a vital part in contributing to the costs of
running the station and towards the training of our crews”.
Splash
and Stagger raises £1125 for lifeboat funds
For many years, Royal Navy personnel from the Navy's Air Medical School have played the roles of badly injured casualties. However deployments of naval personnel to the worlds trouble spots have meant that in recent years their services have been unavailable so as with last two year's, casualties have been played by members of the South East Coast Ambulance Trust taking part on their days off. Over the years the scenarios facing the lifeboat crews have varied but all have involved severe injuries and have all been devised by the Whitstable Lifeboats current Honorary Medical Advisor, Dr Terry Stefani . Dr Stefani explained this year's scenario with the action taking place on the west quay of Whitstable harbour which for the purpose of the exercise had become an offshore installation.
The first casualty, the crane driver, played by Ambulance Medical Technician Nick Holden is slumped against the side of the crane, pale, very sweaty and rather belligerent responding only to pain. If his condition is recognised and glucose gel administered he will rapidly regain consciousness and potentially will prove very helpful in the exercise albeit regretful. If not he will become more unconscious and need close monitoring.
The third casualty, Paramedic Scott Goudie was partly under the crane with a severe abdominal injury with exposed gut spilling out and in severe pain and distress. In addition a chemical drum nearby had been damaged and a pool of the chemical was spreading close by. The fourth casualty, played by Ambulance Clinical team Leader Winston Dwyer had a minor head injury but with facial and hand burns from contamination by the spreading chemical which he doesn't understand. All he could talk about was the pain in his hands. All the simulated injuries had been most realistically applied by Whitstable lifeboat crewmember Mark Laming who in the last few years has become a most expert make-up artist!
Although Whitstable's Atlantic 75 Lifeboat normally carries a crew of three, in some circumstances, a fourth crewmember can be taken. This year because there were only two teams taking part it was supposed that the lifeboat had taken a fourth crewmember although on Saturday, the fourth crewmember walked to the scene from the boathouse once the other three had completed the seamanship part of the exercise. As the first aid component of the exercise took place on the west Quay near to the lifeboat station the lifeboat was launched and dispatched seawards on the seamanship part of the exercise, the crew having to complete various tasks before the lifeboat was diverted back to the harbour and the simulated incident. The two crews therefore faced a daunting task when they took it in turns to tackle the simulated incident. The first task was to secure the lifeboat alongside the offshore installation (west Quay) and in the sloppy conditions this was not easy, a crewmember went off to asses the situation whilst the other two secured the lifeboat and transferred equipment. The crews had to examine each casualty and prioritize accordingly. Casualty Lee Page, amongst the pallets was losing blood and obviously in a bad way but Scott Goudie was under the crane with the severe abdominal injury, but to complicate matters there was the chemical spill. The crews would have to extract him from under the crane before they could administer first aid, but would they notice the chemicals seeping around the unfortunate victim. Both these two casualties required some immediate attention, and in the difficult situation crews began to administer first aid but to get the casualty from under the crane required care, moving him caused increased pain.
Then there was casualty Winston Dwyer, he was in pain from the chemical burns but the only casualty who could give the lifeboat crews any information as to what had happened. The crane driver, Nick Holden could not be ignored and it was important to diagnose his condition, fortunately the crews found a medical tag around his neck and once they had established he was diabetic and administered glucose he soon recovered and became less of a concern. Gradually the crews got to grips with the situation but it all seemed to take time, but, as in reality it was far better to take a controlled approach which would be more beneficial to both the situation and casualties. For the purposes of the exercise it was assumed that assistance from the lifeboats at the eflankf stations of Sheerness and Margate was unavailable as they were already on other calls, as was the case with the RAF Helicopter from Wattisham. The lifeboat crews were on their own. Watching how the two crews coped with the first aid element of the exercise was Whitstable Lifeboat Station Medical Advisor Dr Terry Stefani assisted by Dr Alastair Gould, whilst Tom Pederson, RNLI Divisional Assessor Training concentrated on the seamanship skills. No action would escape their critical eye.
Eventually the two crews got the situation to a point at which in reality the casualties would have been transferred to the lifeboat and it was at this point that Dr Stefani called a halt to the exercise. The relief from all taking part was clear to all but it was now time for the adjudicators to make a decision as to who would be the winning team. Divisional Assessor Training, Tom Pederson said. An exercise like this goes a long way to combating skill fade and although casualty care is something that's intensively trained, this exercise will keep new skills learned fresh for when needed operationally. Lifeboat crews need a wide range of skills and volunteers all have varying strengths and many of these have been looked at today. For Ambulance Clinical Team Leader Winston Dwyer it was his first time playing a casualty in the Dan Davies Exercise "It was a beautifully structured scenario because it involved the major components of an incident that might be experienced by a lifeboat and on the medical side it was comparable with anything an ambulance crew might find faced with the same situation and for me it would have been difficult to single out any one individual crewmember, for me it was a team event and I look forward to being involved next year". At the presentation ceremony at the boathouse later on Saturday evening Dr Terry Stefani said that Whitstable Lifeboat Stations Dan Davies Exercise was a unique event within the RNLI as no other station in the country goes quite to the lengths that we do here in simulating an incident. However he conceded that in perspective we have the most ridiculous of scenarios as only 10% of lifeboat calls nationally have a medical element but nevertheless our crews have dealt with the over the top situations superbly and the casualties injuries were incredibly well managed by the crewmembers taking part. Dr Stefani then invited Charlie Davies, son of Dr Dan Davies, to
present the trophy to this year's winning team of Helmsman Tony Martin and his
crew of John Skinner, Stuart Enderby and Mike Dinley. The Kit Davies award for the best individual performance and presented in memory of Kit Davies, Dr Davies son who passed away in 2007 was awarded to for a second year running to Dan Monk by Kit Davies wife Fiona. Helmsman Tony Martin said afterwards. It was again a very tough scenario but this year having a fourth member of the crew along made a difference and enabled us to cope with the situation more efficiently and as ever with these exercises we have all learned a considerable amount. Probably the best comment on the day came from paramedic and casualty on the day Scott Goudie who said the situation today was. Doing what you can with the resources you've got Whitstable Lifeboat Crews can certainly be proud that they have demonstrated their ability to do just that!
Award
for Whitstable Lifeboat’s former Education Officer
In
making the presentation Tatti McNally, RNLI Youth Education Manager for London
and the South-East said “Over 16-years Geoff has done more than 200 visits and
talks to various schools, youth groups and adult organizations and he has been a
marvellous supporter of the lifeboat and RNLI. He has done a large amount to
promote and inspire the young to support the RNLI and get over the sea safety
message and although he has now retired from the education role he still gives
talks from time to time to adult groups on the operation of the lifeboat and
workings of the RNLI”
Prestigious
Award for Whitstable Lifeboat Station
However
the RNLI is entirely funded by voluntary contributions and behind the scenes is
a dedicated group of volunteers actively involved in the fund-raising side of
the organization which keep the station running and contributes to the RNLI
nationally. The
Whitstable Branch of the RNLI‘s fund-raisers are involved in many activities
on behalf of the station and RNLI, flag days, street collections, stalls at
fetes and other activities play their part in bringing in the much needed
revenue to keep the lifeboat in service however this week the station has been
recognised for its efforts in its principal activity that of running the
souvenir and coffee shop at the boathouse with the award of the RNLI’s
Regional Retail Award for 2011 which was presented to members of the branch at
the station on Tuesday evening. Tina
Maher, the RNLI’s regional retail manager for London and the south-east who
made the presentation to Branch Chairman Diane Lamberton and her fellow
volunteers said “When I first visited the Whitstable Branch in 2005 I
introduced them to many changes and they have all worked very hard as a team to
incorporate them into the way in which the shop is run and we have seen turnover
rise from £14000 in 2005 to £55000 in 2009 and although it has dropped back to
around £50000 recently due to difficult times it has still been a phenomenal
increase and it gives me great pleasure to present the award for best shop in
the region” Speaking
afterwards, Diane Lamberton said “Our thanks go to Tina who has helped us
through many difficulties but also thanks are due to the branch members and this
award is for all of us” She
continued “We have around 30 members of the fund-raising team and between us
we staff the shop 6 days a week from Easter to Christmas and on Friday, Saturday
and Sunday mornings from then until the following Easter and we have been very
busy recently with the Oyster Festival and Harbour Day weekends”.
Herne
Bay Letting Agents Miles and Barr Assist Lifeboat
Crew Equipment
associated with operating the Whitstable Lifeboat is constantly subjected to
wear and tear and has to be able to withstand the toughest conditions and this
week Herne Bay based letting agents Miles and Barr have assisted in the process
of equipping the station’s volunteer crews with the purchase of a new £250
drysuit for use by crewmembers. Mark
Anderson office manager for Miles and Barr said “We had been looking to
support local charities and being based in a coastal town we thought what could
be better than the RNLI, besides which one of our contractors, gas engineer
Steve Verity is one of the stations launchers and his activities with the
lifeboat had inspired us to support the station”  s
whilst afloat on a call or training exercise and forms just one item amongst the
many that are all essential items of equipment without which a lifeboat could
not put to sea”
Lifeboat
Helmsman Craig Sidders shows off the new dry or Typhoon suit to Miles and Barr
office manager Mark Anderson and negotiator Melanie Pancenko at Whitstable
lifeboat station on Wednesday evening.
Budgens
staff raise cash for lifeboat
Checkout
operator Andrew Wright said “Members of staff had chosen the lifeboat as our
charity of the year and on Saturday members of staff including Kate Willis, Emma
Thomas, Dan Monk and myself dressed in nautical themed attire and were joined by
‘Stormy Stan the Lifeboat Man who helped us with a collection and people loved
it, they just started donating when they saw him. Georges Mini Market opposite
us lent me a wet suit for the day and also made a donation” “We
raised £270 for the lifeboat and our thanks go to all those who donated. Later
this year we are planning another charity event around Christmas in aid of the
Great Ormond Street Hospital with a Scalextric set as one of the prizes.”
Former Whitstable lifeboat crewmember ‘Bob’ Taylor
Bob Taylor was a member of the lifeboat crew from 1982 to 1988 following which he served as a shore helper from 1992 until 1996. Born in Whitstable in 1949 his younger days were spent around the beaches and harbour and on leaving school he worked for the Seasalter and Ham Oyster Fishery Company before joining the East Kent Bus Company following which, he had various other jobs with local firms before again returning to the bus company, but also continued to be found around the harbour. Whitstable Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Judge said "Bob had two spells with Whitstable Lifeboat, first as a crewmember and then later he returned to the station as a launcher and tractor driver, in all serving for 13-years as a member of the RNLI" "It is always sad to hear of the passing of former members of the station and on Thursday the stations flag was flown at half-mast as a mark of respect from the station and fund raising branch to Bob and his family. He leaves a wife Joanne, two daughters and two grandchildren.
The lifeboat crew located the 14-foot craft with 2-persons onboard about 1 mile offshore and just to the east of the old Herne Bay pier head and took the vessel ashore at Herne Bay harbour where they were met by the Herne Bay Coastguard. The craft had suffered a seized engine. This was the 22nd call of the year for Whitstable’s volunteer lifeboat crews. Teacher Mrs Alice Witty said "We had taken 28 infant children on a visit to the station and had a look at the lifeboat and had just finished watching some DVD’s of it being launched when the crew got the call". "We all went down and sat on the beach to watch it go out and the children all thought it was brilliant and they were excited when the launching tractor driver turned his seat around and drove it back up the beach". "They had a wonderful time and our visit was very informative. They have learnt a lot about beach and sea safety and as a result we are going to hold a cake sale to raise funds for the lifeboat" Lifeboat Visits Officer David Hayward said "School and group visits to the station have become a very important aspect of the station’s work as, in addition to showing children and other groups the lifeboat and its equipment and explaining how the RNLI operates, we are able to get over some very important sea safety messages and with the start of the school holidays next month, this is of considerable importance. Any school, youth group or other organization who would like to visit the station can contact me on 01227 264489 although there is no guarantee that they will see the lifeboat launch on an actual call!"
Local
Masons Support for Lifeboat Worshipful
Master Gerry Skinner who made the presentation on behalf of the Lodge to members
of the crew during a training session at the lifeboat station on Wednesday
evening said “The monies were raised from the profits from a tombola at our
ladies night held back in April at the Marine Hotel”. “ “The
lodge has a long tradition of supporting local charities and on this occasion
the RNLI was chosen by my wife Kathy as we have long been associated with the
fund-raising side of the lifeboat and our Son-in-Law is now a member of the
crew” “Each
year the Lodge gives anything up to £1500 in the form of small grants to local
charities in addition to fund-raising for various national charities” Whitstable
Lifeboat Stations Operations Manager Mike Judge said “We thank the Lodge for
their efforts on our behalf and all donations to the station are most welcome.
With the arrival of the summer months, the station and our crews now enter the
busiest part of the year and we have already this year launched to 19 calls, and
it is always good to know that local organizations and people are still prepared
to support the station and the RNLI”. Graystone Lodge Worshipful Master Gerry Skinner presents the cheque for £500 to Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Judge and members of the Whitstable Lifeboat crew during a training session at the boathouse on Wednesday evening. Picture: RNLI Whitstable.
Fine Weather Boosts Whitstable Lifeboat’s Easter Fair
With over £1400 raised for lifeboat funds Branch Chairman Diane Lamberton described the morning as "One of the best ever Easter Fair’s held at the station. We had the usual range of stalls selling cakes, produce and the like as well as a raffle, a handicraft stall and Easter Eggs, as well as our RNLI souvenirs and sales in our coffee shop. The early part of the morning was quiet but later it all took off and our volunteers had a very busy time. Our thanks go to all our customers and those who helped run the event for making it so successful"
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