A Monthly Publication

 Figures released on the 25th January 2010 by RNLI Headquarters show that Volunteer lifeboat crews have had their busiest 12 months in the 186-year history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The charity launched lifeboats on 9,154 occasions in 2009 across the UK and Ireland.  This is the first time the RNLI has exceeded 9,000 launches in a year.  The lifeguard service operated by the RNLI also had the busiest year since lifeguards were introduced in 2001, responding to13,588 incidents and assisting 15,954 people.  The Flood Rescue Team helped hundreds of Cockermouth's residents reach safety during the November Cumbrian floods, showing that the RNLI charity can touch the lives of anyone at any time, whether at the coast or in their own homes.

In Norfolk the stations at Hunstanton, Wells, Sheringham, Cromer, Happisburgh and Gorlston launched on 190 occasions and rescued 130 people, RNLI lifeguards at Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Hemsby, Cromer, Mundesley, Sea Palling and Sheringham attended 669 incidents and helped 679 people.  In 2008 they attended 603 incidents and helped 664 people.

Hunstanton Lifeboat and Hovercraft launched on service 32 times and gave assistance to some 37 persons.

(To be confirmed from HQ)

The RNLI's Divisional Inspector for the East, Andrew Ashton, said; ‘These figures prove once again what an invaluable service the RNLI is providing to anyone in difficulty around the coast.  Yet again our volunteers were ready to drop everything whatever the time of day or night, in any weather conditions,

to save people in distress.  With some stations recording significant increases on previous years this can partly be explained by the increase in the number of people deciding to take their holidays close to home, rather than going abroad, due to the economic climate.’ He added: 'The importance of providing lifeguard cover on Norfolk's beaches is shown by the increasing number of incidents in which they help people of all ages.'

I wrote about the Christmas tree exchange with Skegness in last months issue, since then I've done a bit of trawling through our archives and came across a 1963 March edition of the Lifeboat magazine, in it is a photo, ( by courtesy of  Skegness Standard) of coxswain Perrin of  Skegness handing over a tree and Christmas fare to the crew of the Lynn Well lightship, maybe some one can put names to the other person.

In 1908 there were 54 light vessels on station around our coast run by Trinity House, mostly on the East coast where shoals extend well out to sea. The first light vessel was laid at the Nore (entrance to the Thames) in 1732.  Until 1886 vessels were of wood construction, followed by iron, and from 1936 all were made from steel, ranging in size from 84 feet 6 inches to 137 feet 3 inches O.A. in length, and 20 feet to 26 feet beam, they were unpowered, being towed to position.  The crew consisted of two Masters and nine ratings, of whom one Master and six ratings aboard at one time, each Master served four weeks afloat and four ashore, the ratings served four afloat with two weeks ashore free of duty.  Accommodation single berth cabins,  the crew made their own arrangements for feeding themselves afloat, supplies being taken out by the service tender once a fortnight, however an emergency stock of provisions was carried.  The cost of building and maintaining them was expensive, so Trinity House embarked on a long term plan to replace them.  In 1973 the Lynn Well light was replaced by a Large automatic navigation buoy (the Lanby)  The Lynn Well lightship was later sold and the new owner was hoping to turn it into a floating restaurant, I'm not sure but I think it was on the Thames.

Crew member Leesa Espley is still looking for sponsors for her London  Marathon, to which she is raising money for the RNLI, to sponsor Leesa and help save lives at sea log on to www.justgiving.com and enter Lessa Espley in the sponsor a friend box, or contact Leesa on 01485 570472 for an official sponsor form. In the two previous issues of newsletter, the Tel. No. is incorrect, my fault, got my digits in the wrong order. My apologies to the person if they received unwanted calls.

The crew are organising a race night at Old Hunstanton Social Club March 6th in aid of the RNLI the Charity that saves lives at sea, for more infomation on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk