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LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS

An evening with Jim Lawrence

Thames sailing barge skipper Jim Lawrence will be giving a talk at the boathouse on Saturday 17th April, starting at 7pm. Tickets are £5 and are available from the RNLI shop, or ring Diane Lamberton on 01227 262305.  Light refreshments will be available. Although any remaining tickets will be available on the night, Jim's talks are always very popular, and with numbers limited to 100, it would be a good idea to get them in advance.

Lifeboat Station holds Teachers Day

Whitstable Lifeboat Station held an open morning on Sunday 28th February for teachers representing several local schools in a pioneering move aimed at increasing the awareness of the lifeboat and the RNLI amongst children and providing an educational resource into the bargain.

Organised by David Hayward, Whitstable Lifeboats Visits Officer and former Head of Hampton School in Herne Bay several teachers braved the wet and windy weather to visit the lifeboat station and hear from members of the lifeboat crew and station about the work of the RNLI in Whitstable, the running of the station and all the behind the scenes activity and fund raising that supports what is one of the busiest lifeboat stations on the Kent Coast.

Speaking afterwards David Hayward said “It all went pretty well given the appalling weather and we had representatives from St Nicholas Infant School in Strood,  Whitstable’s Joy Lane Primary and St Mary’s Schools , Hampton School in Herne Bay and  Parkside School in Canterbury who heard about the various educational resources we can offer here at the station”.

“The crew spent time talking to everybody as a group and individually and RNLI Education Manager for the South East Tatti McNally was on hand to talk about various RNLI educational services and resources that are on offer from the RNLI regionally”.

“Also present was Tom Hawkins the City Council’s Foreshore Officer  who is involved with visits to the harbour and foreshore and it is our aim to work together  to offer a ‘joined up’ educational resource”.

“We held the event at this time because hopefully we can encourage more schools to visit this spring and summer and already the St Nicholas School have booked a visit. Many local schools have visited the station over the years and hopefully we can encourage more schools from further afield to visit or take advantage of RNLI educational resources.

 “The morning was certainly a first for Whitstable Lifeboat Station and possibly for the RNLI and it is a move that could be repeated elsewhere. My only disappointment is that given the weather conditions, we were unable to launch the lifeboat. Any other teachers or schools who feel they would like to take advantage of what we can offer are invited to contact me on 01227 264489 or through the station’s web-site www.whitstablelifeboat.org.uk”.

Anglers ‘sponsored dip’ lands catch for lifeboat

When the hardy souls at Herne Bay Angling Association dived into the sea just before Christmas they were hoping that their efforts would raise a  good sum for the Whitstable lifeboat and their efforts came to fruition when their President Roger Greenin handed over a cheque for £1752 to members of the lifeboat station.

“We have been long time supporters for the Whitstable Lifeboat because you never know when we might need them and 13 swimmers, some in fancy dress took part in the sponsored swim in December” he said.

Nicki Orton who organised the swim added “This is the third year we have taken the plunge and as with the previous two years last Decembers dip has been well supported so it is now a regular event!”

 Diane Lamberton, Chairman of the Whitstable Branch of the RNLI said “This has been a magnificent effort by the Herne Bay Angling Association and I can only admire their courage in taking a dip in December especially given how cold this winter has been. On behalf of the station I thank them for their contribution and wish them all a safe 2010”.

First Call of the Year for Whitstable Lifeboat

The three occupants of a broken down angling boat were pleased to see the Whitstable Lifeboat when their craft suffered engine failure whilst fishing off Herne Bay on Thursday evening.

The trio, boat owner Dennis Tregaskes accompanied by John Chapman and 11-year old Lorne Chapman had set of from Herne Bay earlier in the day but their craft developed engine problems when they began their return to shore.

Said Mr Tregaskes “I was pleased that my radio was working and we were very glad to see the lifeboat arrive. Lorne was a bit nervous and wanted to get home but it is an adventure he can now tell his friends about”

 This was the first call of the year for Whitstable’s volunteer lifeboat crew. Helmsman Dave Parry accompanied by crewmembers Tony Martin and Martin Easton said afterwards “We located the 22-foot vessel in the Kentish Flats windfarm . Due to the low water we took the craft to a mooring off the Neptune Jetty before transferring the three to the lifeboat and bringing them ashore at the Neptune Ramp. The lifeboat then returned to station where the lifeboat was recovered and serviced ready for its next call by the stations launchers and shore helpers”.

Lifeboat Station Saddened at Death of Former Crewmember

Whitstable Lifeboat Station has been saddened following the death at the age of 74 of former crewmember David (Dave) Holmes on the 5^th January.

Dave joined the Whitstable Lifeboat in 1967, four years after it was founded and shortly after the station became an ‘all-year round’ operation. It was then equipped with the small ‘D’ Class inshore lifeboat.

When in 1973 the station received the much larger and three-man crewed Atlantic 21 Lifeboat, Dave continued to be a regular member of the crew and in 1977 was awarded a Certificate of Service for his part in the rescue of the 3-crew from the fishing vessel RX 216 of Rye when the craft broke down and dragged its anchor off the ‘Street’ in a gale in February 1977.

Dave Holmes, a carpenter by profession served on the crew until 1985 and from 1985 to 1995 as a launcher and shore helper. He was also presented with a Long Service Award.

Former Lifeboat Honorary Secretary Larry Lamberton said “Dave was a willing hand and well liked member of the station who could be relied upon to pull his weight and was a good ‘all’ round person”

Lifeboat  Operations Manager Mike Judge said “Whitstable Lifeboat Stations flag is currently being flown at half-mast to mark the respect of the crew, shore helpers and fundraising branch and the station would like to express their condolences to his wife Jan and son Derek at this sad time”

Mr Holmes funeral will take place at 11.30 on Friday 22^nd January at the Cemetery Chapel in Millstrood Road followed by a wake at the lifeboat Station.

Lifeboat and Yacht Club meet in annual football match 

Teams representing the Whitstable Lifeboat and the Whitstable Yacht Club found themselves away from their natural environment when they met at Whitstable Community College for their annual Boxing Day Football match.

The event that has taken place for more years than anyone can remember is always a keenly fought contest and this year was no exception.

The lifeboat team were quickly into the lead scoring after 5 minutes and steamed further into the lead with a second goal after 8 minutes. However the Yacht Club opened their account shortly afterwards but by half time the lifeboat team had sailed back into the lead with 2 further goals.

 Shortly after the start of the second half the lifeboat scored again but the yacht club team got back on course with 2 more goals, however they were caught on the wrong tack just before full time when the lifeboat team scored the final and winning goal of the match to secure a 6 – 3 victory.

Successful Christmas fair for Lifeboat Station

Whitstable Lifeboat Stations annual Christmas fair has raised £1068.85 for lifeboat funds with a further £610 coming from sales in the station’s souvenir shop on Saturday morning.

 RNLI Branch Chairman Diane Lamberton was delighted with the result “It is a very good figure for the two hours duration of the fair which is always a popular pre-Christmas event in the town. The boat hall was as ever well filled with stalls including raffle, produce, handicraft and bric-a-brac stalls and there was a constant flow of visitors coming in through the door”.

“We would like to thank all those who supported the event and the local traders that included Budgens, Granny Smith’s, Rook’s, Johnny’s Florists and Staines Farm Shop  who all donated raffle prizes or goods for sale”.

Penny Noble-Wood with parents Malc and Tracy at the Christmas Fair on Saturday morning (click on photo to enlarge)

A Windsurfer in difficulties and a hoax call see Whitstable Lifeboat launch twice over the weekend.

Whitstable Lifeboat was launched on Sunday night (16th Nov) after a report from Thames Coastguard that they had received a 999 call from a man contemplating suicide in the sea and thought to be in the Seasalter area.

The lifeboat was launched at 22.53 and commenced a search inshore between Seasalter and the Swale whilst the Herne Bay Mobile Coastguard and Police searched the shoreline and beaches.

The RAF Sea King helicopter from Wattisham in Suffolk was also dispatched to the scene but shortly after its arrival Police reported that they had traced a male via his mobile phone and that he was safe and well in a caravan at Seasalter.

All the emergency services were stood down and the call was recorded as a malicious hoax.

After the incident Lifeboat Helmsman Dave Parry said ‘This man’s actions resulted in a major search operation by various emergency services. It resulted in a disturbed night for all of the lifeboat station’s volunteers who turned out to launch, crew and operate the station for two hours during the incident and subsequent recovery and servicing of the lifeboat’.

Earlier in the weekend the lifeboat was launched on Saturday afternoon after a windsurfer raised the alarm, when another windsurfer got into difficulties off the harbour. He had been seen waving for help but had now disappeared from view and was thought to be off the Long Beach to the east of the harbour.

The lifeboat crew launched at 13.07 in south-westerly force 8-9 winds and commenced a search towards Tankerton whilst the Herne Bay Mobile Coastguard Unit conducted a search along the beaches. However it was later reported that the casualty had managed to reach the shore and the lifeboat was stood down to return to station.

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