RNLI Thurrock

07/12/08

Santa(s) put in an appearance!

Further to our earlier report (22/11/08) rather like buses you wait ages for one then three turn up together or to be more precise ninety seven. The event was the 2008 Santa Fun Run and Walk around Chafford Hundred in support of the Thurrock Community Chest.
Keeping the branch flag flying was our very own man of mystery and his trusty dog Max.

22/11/08

Santa puts in an appearance!

Our younger supporters (and those who are young at heart) might like to know that Santa was spotted in the locality this weekend by our roving reporter. It is believed he was recalibrating his "Sat Nav" in preparation for the busy Christmas period ahead.

13/11/08

Thurrock Yacht Club Prize Giving Night

Four branch members attended Thurrock Yacht Clubs annual prize giving. This event was well supported, a fairly informal affair marking the end of the 2008 sailing season. The club celebrated another very successful year which was illustrated by the number of trophies and medals on display.
Mark and Dermot presented a Pennant to this years RNLI Pennant Race winning skipper Peter Clark (Teglyn).
TYC, in turn, presented the branch with a cheque for £409 towards the work of the RNLI.

21/09/08

Fun Day 2008

This event took place in the Grays masonic hall and grounds and once again the weather was excellent. Entertainment was provided by a DJ and a talented young saxophone player. There was plenty available to eat and drink, from Indian cuisine to pork roast rolls.You could also try some of your old sweetie favourites.
As usual we met a lot of very nice people and everyone seemed to be enjoying the event.

20/09/08

RSPB Country Fayre 2008

The branch accepted an invitation from the RSPB to exhibit at their Country Fayre at Rainham marshes.
As this venue fronts the river Thames and is covered by Gravesend Lifeboat the display/presentation focused on Thames Lifeboats and RNLI Gravesend in particular. This generated a lot of interest and questions.
Despite a few technical problems such as being outside when we thought we would be in a Marquee and the generator provided not initially working, we had a good time. Thankfully the weather was extremely kind to us, unlike earlier events this year.

06/09/08

Orsett Show 2008

The day started dry and grey but by lunch the weather had deteriorated bringing gusting wind and rain, at this stage our gazebo was lashed to the trailer and I was standing holding an upright. Eventually the roof started leaking so about 3 pm we decided to dismantle the gazebo and retire to the RNLI Sea Safety road show trailer, even that took a buffeting. The gazebo next to ours totally disintegrated and a tent the other side of the police office blew down several times during the day (even damaging some cars).
The actual attendance was probably fairly good considering the weather but most people headed for home early.

26/08/08

Charity Golf Day

The Ray Redsell memorial golf day was held at Thorndon Park golf club, and was attended by over forty keen golfers including our branch chairman, Gerard Rice. The players enjoyed a competitive round of golf in idyllic surroundings and perfect weather conditions. This was followed by an excellent meal, raffle and prize giving ceremony.
Many thanks to Joy and her team for organising such an enjoyable event.

9 & 10/08/08

Purfleet Heritage Centre "RAF Days"

The branch attended the RAF celebrations at Purfleet Heritage Centre. Saturday was a wet and windy day and Sunday, bright, warm but very windy. Many enthusiasts had dressed in period military or civilian costumes giving this event a very distinctive character.
The Gravesend lifeboat did a demonstration on the river, in very blustery conditions (many thanks to them).
This was followed with an aerial display by a Beagle Pup aircraft.

5/08/08

Coffee Morning

This year the weather was unkind to us, however in true British tradition we persevered and during lulls in the storm clouds had an enjoyable, if wet event. The gardens obviously benefited and looked as beautiful as ever, many thanks, once again, to our hosts Len and Jose.
Despite the damp conditions this event raised over £750 so a big thank you to all who attended.

25/07/08

Round Britain by Powerboat

Reel Estate, with Nick Craddock at the helm, arrives home in Brixham, completing a fundraising circumnavigation of the UK lasting 74 days. I am sure Nick would say it was an arduous trip but when I caught up with him ( in London ) he was lounging in the sun outside Starbucks.
This trip raised, as yet, an undisclosed amount for the RNLI.

21/07/08

Mayor of Thurrock visits RNLI Gravesend

The Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr. John Everett, joined sixteen branch members and guests in a visit to RNLI Gravesend. They were treated to a tour of the station, inspected the lifeboats and got to meet some of the crew who operate them.
The weather was excellent and the visit concluded with lunch at a local hostelry.

04/07/08

Round Britain by Powerboat passes through Tilbury

Reel Estate, owned and operated by Nick Craddock, visited Tilbury today, in the latter stages of a Round Britain by Powerboat fundraising circumnavigation of the UK.You would needed to have been alert to spot the vessel though as on a bright and warm afternoon she creamed up the Thames at 18 knots.
I understand that Nick has been associating in recent days with the Round Britain Powerboat Racing fraternity (different event with a similar name!). I think he must have picked up a few tips.

29/06/08

Purfleet Heritage Centre "Veterans Day"

The branch attended the veterans day celebrations at Purfleet Heritage Centre, joining the mayor together with a distinguished group of war veterans and military enthusiasts.
On a warm and blustery day visitors took the chance to view some historical military equipment and vehicles and absorb some of the atmosphere as nearly everyone had dressed in period military or civilian costumes.
The Gravesend lifeboat did a demonstration on the river (many thanks to them) and we were then treated to a flypast by a lone bi plane.

19/02/08

RNLI lifeboats rescued 7,834 people in 2007

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) annual lifeboat and lifeguard rescue statistics for 2007 reveal over half (52%) of lifeboat launches were to leisure craft.
RNLI's lifeboats were launched 8,141 times during 2007, rescuing 7,834 people. More than half of the 8,141 RNLI lifeboat launches - 4,287 - were to recreational sea users in leisure craft. Of the 4,287 RNLI lifeboat launches to leisure craft in 2007 almost half (43%) were to powered craft, well over a third (40%) to sailing craft and 17% were to manual leisure craft.
The major cause for RNLI lifeboat launches to (manual, power and sailing) leisure craft, as in previous years, was overwhelmingly machinery failure (29% of incidents), this is followed by craft being stranded or grounded (13%) and vessels meeting adverse weather conditions (9%) as the three main causes for lifeboat launches to leisure craft in 2007.
The top three reasons for lifeboat launches to each specific type of leisure craft in 2007 were machinery or engine failure for both power and sailing leisure craft, while the impact of adverse weather conditions was the main reason for lifeboat launches to manual leisure craft. The final RNLI rescue figures for 2007 also show an increase in the number of man overboard incidents for leisure craft - rising from 161 (2006) to 201 (2007), up 25% from 2006.

Despite fewer visitors to the coast during the early summer months due to the unseasonable weather, RNLI lifeboats and lifeguards continued to respond to a high number of calls for help, as more and more people are using the water and beaches for leisure pursuits. RNLI lifeguards, who were operational on 71 beaches in the south west of England and East Anglia, rescued 1,350 people, came to the aid of a further 9,883 people and responded to 8,201 incidents. The wet summer weather also meant that the RNLI's Flood Rescue Team and volunteer lifeboat crews were particularly active inland, rescuing another 200 people in flood hit areas across the UK during the summer months.

Tower lifeboat station on the River Thames was the busiest RNLI lifeboat station, launching 529 times and rescuing 226 people, and Southend lifeboat station launched 131 times and rescued 121 people.

26/01/08

RNLI SOS Fundraising Day collection at Lakeside

The Branch held an SOS Day collection at Lakeside and on a bright and sunny day we collected £390. As usual we met and spoke to a number of very interesting people. Thanks to everybody involved.

16/01/08

Gravesend Lifeboat rescues teenagers cut off by tide

Gravesend RNLI lifeboat was called out on Wednesday evening (16th Jan) to assist two teenagers who had become cut off by the tide.
London Coastguard requested the lifeboat to launch after receiving reports that two people had climbed aboard the derelict Gull lightship, adjacent to Thurrock Yacht Club, and become trapped by the rising tide. The lifeboat crew, consisting of crew members Andy Colley, Dave Parry and Graham Tassell, brought the teenagers aboard the lifeboat, before landing them back ashore at Grays. The pair, a male aged 17 and a female aged 18, both from the local area,were unharmed.