RNLI Launch Shed Appeal 17 Jul 2009
The RNLI launched their appeal for £50K towards a new boatshed at the Queen’s Head on the 25th June. This will be necessary as the local branch expects to take delivery of a new ‘Atlantic 85’ lifeboat which is bigger in all dimensions than the present ‘75’ and as Dick Rycroft, the Operations Manager explained, “The shed won’t stretch!” The 85 has a crew of four, rather than three with the fourth member of the crew sitting in front of a small radar screen.
Dick remarked that it would be a mistake for the public to think that their task was solely rescuing sailors in difficulty; they are often called out for incidents along the riverbank. He mentioned the rescue of an angler with a broken ankle when the ambulance was unable to get to within two miles of him. Then there was a flock of 29 sheep to be rounded up after being chased by dogs into Clement’s Green Creek.
Dick’s point was well made as several of the team disappeared from the scene before the end of the evening to answer a ‘shout’ to search for an elderly lady with Alzheimer’s who went walkabout in Hullbridge along the river bank!
£50,000 is needed for the local contribution to this project and the fund has already benefited from some generous support. The Town Mayor, Carole Noble, received a cheque for £5,000 from Danyal Adams of the Fambridge Yacht Haven, Jim, the Landlord of the Queen’s Head, handed over the cash from the weekly beer raffle collected from his regulars, the Reverend Vera Wadman, organised ‘Songs of Praise’, at Creeksea Church which raised about £350 and four members of the RNLI Crew are planning a tandem freefall parachute jump with the Red Devils on September 3rd in Nottingham.
The four members of the ‘Dare Devils’ Team are Duncan Rawlinson, Neville Murray, Sam Weetch, and Martin Hipsey. Martin, known to us as ‘Hippo’ of the Squibs, reports that it is rare for crew members to make up the team; it is more usual to have members of the public.
I am sure that many members are already generous with their support of the RNLI as it is a kind of insurance policy. However, you may like to offer Hippo some contribution towards the team’s target of £2,500 if you see him in the Club or you may like to donate directly through www.burnham-rnli.org.uk or the special donation website via the live link where you can add words of encouragement or just wish him, “Good Luck”!