Whitstable Lifeboat news

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The customers and staff at Whitstable’s Duke of Cumberland Hotel have raised £200 for the RNLI when they held a quiz on Sunday evening last week as part of the RNLI S.O.S Day, a day of national fund raising activities for the lifeboats that was held on the previous Friday.

Licensee Miggie Ravenscroft said “We were approached by the RNLI last year via e-mail to do something for last year’s S.O.S. day and took a bucket around. This year we thought we would do something specific and decided to hold a quiz on the Sunday evening just after the actual day”

“Michelle Godden, one of my staff undertook to organize the event and was assisted by her father Ray who acted as question master. 40 people made up seven teams and took part in what was a most enjoyable evening with the Misfit’s and S.O.S teams ending up as joint winners”.

“We have decided that the quiz evening will be a regular Sunday evening event at the ‘Duke’ and will hold one on the last Sunday of each month except July, August and December with the Whitstable Lifeboat as the beneficiary, the first one being on 28^th February”

Diane Lamberton, Chairman of the Whitstable Branch of the RNLI said “We thank Miggie, Michelle and Ray and the customers at the Duke for their effort. The S.O.S day is an important day in the RNLI calendar and it is pleasing to know that the RNLI’s work is still in people’s minds when it comes to fund-raising activities”.

Duke of Cumberland Licensee Miggie Ravenscroft, centre right, presents the cheque for £200 to Whitstable Lifeboat Branch Chairman Diane Lamberton and members of the lifeboat crew and station at the boathouse on Sunday morning. Click to enlarge

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”.

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.

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.

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.

It has been thirty years since Whitstable Lifeboat Station held its first ‘Dan Davies’ Trophy, a competition between three teams drawn from members of the station's crew, in a realistic test of seamanship and first aid. It is held in memory of Whitstable Lifeboat's first Honorary Medical Officer, local GP Dr Dan Davies who died in 1977.

For many years, personnel from the Royal Navy’s Air Medical School have played the roles of badly injured casualties. However deployments to the world’s trouble spots have meant that in recent years their services have been unavailable. So this year personnel from the South East Coast Ambulance service stepped in to provide the casualties and were expertly made up by Jacqui Twells and Brian Everest of the Casualty Union Kent.

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 Lifeboat’s current Honorary Medical Advisor Dr Terry Stefani.

He explained this year’s scenario, which was loosely based on a real incident earlier this year when a jet ski went out of control across the Thames Estuary.

"A jet skier has lost control of his craft. He is a diabetic who is slowly becoming hypoglycaemic and starting to experience chest pains consistent with having a heart attack. Having lost control he has ploughed straight through a small sailing dinghy injuring the occupants and leading to both craft sinking. The dinghy crew are from the sailing barge ‘Greta’ and the incident has occurred close to their parent vessel. They have all been hauled aboard by the skipper”.

The three lifeboat crews faced dealing with four casualties. One, the jet skier played by Lee Page, a clinical team leader with the ambulance service (and a former member of the lifeboat crew), was diabetic and was suffering with chest pains suggesting a possible heart attack. He was not able to give his medical history and was in great the pain. Over the course of the incident he became more distressed and aggressive.

The second casualty, ambulance technician Scott Goudie, had been struck by the jetski causing severe abdominal and chest injuries. He had gone below deck and was lying on a settee, in much pain and was very quiet.

Paramedic Natalie Randall played the third casualty, who had a severely damaged femur with heavy bleeding from a compound fracture. She was semiconscious from a head injury and was lying face down on the deck.

The fourth casualty was the Skipper of the barge played by ambulance technician Nick Holden. He was very distressed but coherent, sitting on deck, but was very breathless partly due to shock but also was asthmatic and his inhaler was below deck. He had fallen, injuring his shoulder, and had superficial bruising.

The three lifeboat crews of Helmsman Alex Stevens with Kellie Litchfield and John Skinner, Helmsman Craig Sidders and his crew of Martin Easton and Henry Thomson and finally Helmsman Richard Judge with Rob Nichols and Mike Keam all tackled the scenario with enthusiasm although the task facing them was daunting. For the purpose of the exercise it was assumed that no other lifeboats or helicopters were available to help with the incident. The crews were ‘on their own’.

On arrival at the scene, whilst the helmsman and one crewmember secured the lifeboat alongside the ‘Greta’ the other was dispatched to assess the situation. The jet skier was on deck in great pain and unable to give much information and the other casualties were scattered around the barge. Each had to be located and their injuries and condition identified and appropriate first aid given. All this was done under the watchful eye of Dr Stefani accompanied by First Aid Instructors Paul Savage and Vikki Tomalin from RNLI Headquarters in Poole whilst Divisional Training Assessor Tom Pederson observed the crew's seamanship skills.

Dr Stefani said afterwards “This was a very difficult scenario and the three crews handled the situation very well. A jet ski is an extremely dangerous weapon if not handled correctly as was highlighted earlier this year and it was fortunate that on that occasion there was not a collision between the jet ski, other craft or people in the water or at the water’s edge.

At a presentation ceremony in the boathouse later in the evening the ‘Dan Davies Trophy’ was presented to the winning crew of Helmsman Craig Sidders with crewmembers Martin Easton and Henry Thomson by Charlie Davies, son of Dr Dan Davies.

The ‘Kit Davies’ award for the best individual performance and presented in memory of Kit Davies, Dr Davies son who passed away in 2007 and was this was awarded to Rob Nichols by Kit Davies wife Fiona.

Warning issued as unmanned jetski careers out of control

A warning has been issued to the users of Jet Skis following a potentially serious incident when the occupant of a jet ski became separated from his craft off Herne Bay leaving it to career out of control across the Thames Estuary on Sunday.

The alert was raised after the Sailing Barge "Greta" reported sighting the unmanned jet ski between the Kentish Flats Wind Farm and the Shivering Sands Towers.

Whitstable Lifeboat was launched at 14.07 after initial reports that the occupant of the jet ski was unaccounted for. However whilst heading for the scene Thames Coastguard reported that the occupant had been located at Hampton having been brought ashore by another jetski.

As Whitstable Lifeboat commenced a search for the jetski the an outward-bound merchant ship reported the craft heading towards Southend and a further report indicated the jetski had passed within 100-yards of an anchored angling boat near the Red Sands Towers.

The Port of London Authority issued a warning to shipping and it was later sighted entangled in the remains of the former WW2 defence boom at Shoeburyness. Whitstable Lifeboat therefore returned to station and Southend Inshore Lifeboat was asked to attempt to retrieve the stricken craft that was later towed ashore near Leigh in Essex.

Whitstable Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Judge said ‘the sea-safety implications of this incident cannot be understated. This had all the makings of a potentially serious occurrence. If the unmanned jetski had headed inshore then there would have been a serious risk of injury or loss of life to anyone in the water or on the shoreline. In addition the possibility of a collision between the jetski and other small craft would have again had major implications with the possibility of injury and loss of life and could have necessitated a large scale rescue operation’.

‘All jetski’s should have their ‘kill-cord’ attached to the rider so that in the event of the occupant becoming separated from the craft then the engine should cut out. If the jetski were stationary the occupant would stand some chance to re-board the craft. In the event of a rescue becoming necessary if in the occupant is in the water in the vicinity of the craft, then a search is that much easier, a jetski is easier to spot than a person in the water’.

‘It is understood that in this case the rider was attached to his craft by the ‘kill-cord’ but that that it slipped off his wrist and it would probably have been better if the kill-cord was attached to the riders buoyancy jacket. There is no suggestion that he was behaving improperly but the incident has provided a timely reminder that there are risks involved with such craft’

Whitstable Lifeboat Station members had the opportunity to meet the RNLI Chairman Admiral the Lord Boyce GCB OBE DL when he visited the boathouse as part of his tour of south east RNLI lifeboat stations.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Judge introduced Lord Boyce to Station Management Committee Chairman Dave Thompson and Branch Fund Raising Chairman Diane Lamberton, representatives of the crew and branch as well as members of the Faversham fund raising team of the RNLI

Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Judge said 'Lord Boyce spoke generally about the RNLI and its increasing coverage around the coast. He made note of feedback from members of the crew regarding particular issues that face Whitstable Lifeboat crews with its variety of incidents. He complemented all aspects of the station from the fund-raising to the operational side and was most appreciative of the efforts of all the volunteers who make Whitstable the successful station it is’.

RNLI Mobile Training Unit provides First Aid Course at Whitstable Lifeboat Station

Whitstable Lifeboat Crewmembers have been participating in First Aid courses at the boathouse as part of the ongoing training programme for volunteer lifeboat crews.

Over the last 4-weeks crewmembers have attended the courses run by First Aid Instructor Vikki Tomalin who is based at the Lifeboat College at Poole in Dorset but tours lifeboat stations as part of the RNLI Mobile Training Unit.

Said Vikki ‘We instruct in advanced first aid in line with UK Ambulance Aid and so far I have visited 10 lifeboat stations this year’

‘It is all about saving lives at sea and this first aid training gives the crews the skills and confidence to tackle any first aid situation’.

Former Lifeboat Treasurer Remembered

Members of the station remembered Whitstable Lifeboat’s former and long serving treasurer the late Ken Abrams who passed away last year, when members of his family visited the station and presented a cheque for £1500 in his memory.

Lifeboat Branch Chairman Diane Lamberton said ‘It was very nice to see members of Ken’s family here at the station and we thank them very much for their kind gesture’.

Masons support Lifeboat, Demelza House and Pilgrims Hospice

Whitstable Masons have been busy raising funds for three worthwhile local charities and on Tuesday evening members of the Graveney Court Lodge welcomed representatives from the Whitstable Lifeboat Station, The Pilgrims Hospice and Demelza House to their Cromwell Road Headquarters for a presentation.

Charity Steward Albert Leathwhite said ‘Raising charity monies is the main object of Freemasonry and we are delighted to present £1250 to Pilgrims Hospice and £500 each to Demelza House and The Whitstable Lifeboat’.

‘The monies have been raised through a variety of Lodge Functions, raffles and donations. The Pilgrims Hospice was a popular charity with our members as sadly some members and their relatives have been resident there whilst Demelza House was another choice as they desperately need funds and Whitstable Lifeboat is another worthwhile cause to whom we are delighted to be able to support’

The members of the Whitstable Branch of the RNLI had a busy morning on Good Friday when Whitstable Lifeboat Station held its annual Easter Fair in the Boathouse.

The fine spring morning had brought out the visitors both regular and casual including John and Kay Neville from the Oxford Branch of the RNLI (which organised the fund raising campaign to buy the lifeboat) and branch members were kept active all morning staffing the various stalls including the usual favourites, the raffle, cakes and produce, handicrafts and Easter eggs.

Photos show Isabel Rose (aged 7)with the Easter egg she won, and Matthew Byrne (aged 7) eating a hot cross bun at the Easter Fair. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Swimmers benefit Lifeboat and British Heart Foundation

The Whitstable Lifeboat and the British Heart Foundation have benefited from the very brave efforts of members of the Herne Bay Angling Association who presented the two organizations with the proceeds of their sponsored swim which took place at Neptune Jetty, Herne Bay on December 14^th last year.

As good as new, lifeboat returns from refit

Whitstable Lifeboat Stations Atlantic 75 Lifeboat Oxford Town and Gown arrived back in the town on Monday 9th February after spending 4-months away undergoing a refit at the RNLI’s Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

RNLI Deputy Divisional Inspector Allen Head explained ‘Lifeboats are refitted every four years. The lifeboat undergoes a complete survey and is completely stripped down and rebuilt from scratch’

‘This is the second refit for Oxford Town and Gown and the boat’s two 70hp engines have been replaced with new Yamaha 75hp engines giving it an increased speed. The electronics have also been improved’.

Helmsman Dave Parry and Crewmember Martin Easton took Oxford Town and Gown to sea for a trial. Dave Parry said ‘ even though

lifeboats are maintained to the highest standards it is still important that they go away for a thorough overhaul. Our boat now looks and feels like new and with the new engines and increased speed, the boat is more responsive to the throttles’.

Another busy year for the Whitstable Lifeboat

2008 has proved to be another busy year for Whitstable lifeboat crews with the stations Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat Oxford Town and Gown responding to 62 calls and rescuing 66 persons.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Judge said ‘Although 62 calls is fewer than in the previous year it is still a high total’

‘As is usual the range of incidents we have dealt with has been varied ranging from people in the water, swimmers, capsized sailing dinghies, kite surfers, overdue craft, broken down vessels and missing persons in conditions ranging from dead calm, fog, snow and strong winds’.

'Of particular note was the service on 9^th August to assist Thames sailing barges taking part in the Swale barge match, one of which had been holed following a collision. The lifeboat crew assisted salvage operations to the damaged 80-foot vessel and removed two children and their mother to the safety of another vessel’.

‘A few days earlier the lifeboat along with the Southend and Sheerness Lifeboat’s were called to the 38-foot motor cruiser Caronel with four persons onboard taking in water in the vicinity of the Shivering Sands Towers 8-miles north east of Whitstable’.

‘In March the yacht Blue Moon and its four occupants were assisted in gale force winds after the craft broke its mooring and went aground in the Swale and on 17^th July Whitstable Lifeboat was involved in a search along with the Sheerness Lifeboat, police launches, the RAF helicopter and a coastguard spotter plane for a lone yachtsman whose tender, with him onboard, broke adrift from his yacht in the Thames estuary’.

‘No particular group as proved vulnerable and a lot of incidents have occurred in good conditions with craft or persons have suffered some sort of accident. With such a variety of calls it shows how broad the knowledge of our lifeboat crews needs to be. For example in August, the lifeboat attended a man onboard a yacht complaining of chest pains. As it turned out it was probably food poisoning but he did the right thing and called us early and we were able to get him ashore for attention’.

‘Many of the calls have been as a direct result of members of the public calling the coastguard on the 999 system and relaying good information enabling an effective response and as such they are owed our thanks and that of our casualties for without their vigilance and quick thinking the outcome could have well been so very different’.