The acting chairman Dave Vernon welcomed members and the guest, Stuart Tibbett to the March meeting in the Expanse Hotel. Members stood in silence as a mark of respect following the death of former chairman Peter Beevers. After lunch, Stuart, the Bridlington lifeboat coxswain spoke about the RNLI and in particular the lifeboat service in Bridlington.
Bridlington had a lifeboat in 1805 well before the RNLI was formed in 1824. There are now 236 lifeboat stations spread around the coast all run on a voluntary basis and funded by public subscriptions. The headquarters are at Poole in Dorset where there is also a training college. The RNLI is also responsible for the training of lifeguards at beaches, though these are funded by local councils. Four stations operate hovercraft. Lifeboat personnel are also involved in flood rescue on a voluntary basis. The RNLI is also responsible for the education of the public on sea safety and school visits are regularly planned. The RNLI is well known for its fundraising activities, its main sources of income are from flag days, its 1500 guilds and luncheon clubs. Of every £1 raised 83p is spent on boats and equipment, the other 17p is spent on further fundraising.
Bridlington has an Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) named the Windsor Spirit after the Windsor Hotel which raised the cash for its purchase. The ILB operates within 5 miles of shore has a crew of three and 3 hours endurance and does have weather restrictions. The All-Weather Lifeboat (AWB) is a new Shannon class boat named the Anthony Patrick Jones. It has a crew of 6, has a range of 250 miles and has no weather limitations and has all necessary modern communications. Stuart described it as being amazingly maneuverable and versatile. All crew members, except the mechanic are volunteers and each has a specific job on board.
Until very recently the lifeboat was housed in a building opposite the Spa but as the boats got bigger over the years the space became more cramped and a new state of the art lifeboat house has been built adjacent to the Spa and nearer the sea, which will also make launching quicker. The crew have all undergone intensive training both on theory and on board at sea.
Stuart pointed out the restrictions of crew members’ family lives. It is impossible to head out for the day without arranging cover with colleagues. There are 30 crew in Bridlington to operate the two boats.
Stuart concluded an excellent talk with film of the new boat at sea and views of the crew at their posts.
David Palin gave the vote of thanks to Stuart and to all who operate the Lifeboat service.
Bridlington had a lifeboat in 1805 well before the RNLI was formed in 1824. There are now 236 lifeboat stations spread around the coast all run on a voluntary basis and funded by public subscriptions. The headquarters are at Poole in Dorset where there is also a training college. The RNLI is also responsible for the training of lifeguards at beaches, though these are funded by local councils. Four stations operate hovercraft. Lifeboat personnel are also involved in flood rescue on a voluntary basis. The RNLI is also responsible for the education of the public on sea safety and school visits are regularly planned. The RNLI is well known for its fundraising activities, its main sources of income are from flag days, its 1500 guilds and luncheon clubs. Of every £1 raised 83p is spent on boats and equipment, the other 17p is spent on further fundraising.
Bridlington has an Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) named the Windsor Spirit after the Windsor Hotel which raised the cash for its purchase. The ILB operates within 5 miles of shore has a crew of three and 3 hours endurance and does have weather restrictions. The All-Weather Lifeboat (AWB) is a new Shannon class boat named the Anthony Patrick Jones. It has a crew of 6, has a range of 250 miles and has no weather limitations and has all necessary modern communications. Stuart described it as being amazingly maneuverable and versatile. All crew members, except the mechanic are volunteers and each has a specific job on board.
Until very recently the lifeboat was housed in a building opposite the Spa but as the boats got bigger over the years the space became more cramped and a new state of the art lifeboat house has been built adjacent to the Spa and nearer the sea, which will also make launching quicker. The crew have all undergone intensive training both on theory and on board at sea.
Stuart pointed out the restrictions of crew members’ family lives. It is impossible to head out for the day without arranging cover with colleagues. There are 30 crew in Bridlington to operate the two boats.
Stuart concluded an excellent talk with film of the new boat at sea and views of the crew at their posts.
David Palin gave the vote of thanks to Stuart and to all who operate the Lifeboat service.