Soul searching There was extensive national and local TV, radio and press coverage in March of the painful unfolding story of a family lost to the sea at Scarborough. After an 11-year-old boy was swept off the front and his family attempted to rescue him, he and his mother and sister were eventually found dead. Scarborough lifeboat crew worked closely with other emergency services in the long search and then recovery. In the same week and also widely reported, a father and daughter were drowned on Loch Lomond after their boat capsized. Both incidents sadly but powerfully highlighted the dangers of the water and the bravery of the rescue crews.Do you know anyone - 125 years on? The furious gale which prevailed along the eastern coast on Thursday and Friday caused the fishermen and beachmen of every sea-side village, and especially of every lifeboat-station, to be on the look out for vessels that they might, if possible, render them assistance or save the crews from drowning. At Wells-next-the-Sea, which is a lifeboat-station, the beachmen and fishermen were called upon to render assistance to no less than four vessels that had been driven by winds and waves upon the sands. So large a number of vessels, an old inhabitant says, has never been ashore at one time in his recollection.

Sad to relate, the lifeboat Eliza Adams, in going to the succour of the crew of the last of the four vessels that came ashore was capsized and eleven of her crew perished. Two only were saved - one was found in an exhausted state in the lifeboat and another was picked up on the shore, more dead than alive, by two persons who had witnessed the capsize.' This extract from the then Lifeboat Journal accompanies a transcript of the inquest into the tragic events of 29 October 1880. Adding further poignancy, the Ocean Queen, the last casualty, survived the storm. The wreck dried out as the tide ebbed and her crew of six were able to walk safely to shore. Several years after the disaster, Captain Thomas Kew, one of the two survivors, wrote a heartfelt plea that the public should 'raise a memorial to these brave men who perished while doing their duty.'A memorial was indeed built and has recently been restored. It can be seen at the start of the beach road in Wells, opposite the old lifeboat house.

The capsize of the Eliza Adams in 1880 is to be remembered on 29 October 2005. A red rose for each crewman lost will be laid at sea from the current Wells lifeboat, the Mersey class Doris M Mann ofAmpthilt, near the spot where the tragedy occurred. Afterwards there will be a memorial service on the quay followed by the re-dedication of the newly restored memorial.

The day will end with the re-enactment of the inquest into the tragedy, at the Crown Hotel where the original inquest was held.

Allen Frary, the present Coxswain/Mechanic of the Wells lifeboat (and great grandson of William Bell, the other survivor) has managed to trace relatives of several of the crew of the Eliza Adams but he would love to hear from more before the memorial day. The 11 who died were: Frank Abel; John Elsdon (Second Coxswain); Robert Elsdon (Coxswain); William Field; William Green; Charles Hinds; George Jay; Charles Smith; Samuel Smith; John Stacey; William Wordingham. Allen can be contacted on 01328 710230 or 01328 710950 or by email at [email protected],507 rescued in 2004 With all the service return reports safely gathered in (see the Listings section), the Lifeboat can report that, despite the wet summer, more than 7,000 people were rescued at sea by RNLI crews in 2004.

RNLI lifeboats launched a total of 7,656 times and rescued an average of 21 people every day. Fifty two per cent of rescues involved leisure craft (such as motor boats, yachts, windsurfers); 27 per cent were to people without craft (swimmers, walkers); 13 per cent were to commercial and fishing vessels; and 8 per cent to 'others'.

Michael Vlasto, RNLI Operations Director, said: 'Our crews respond to more and more incidents relating to people engaged in leisure pursuits so it's no coincidence that the areas where we are busiest are those that draw the crowds.' See the spring 2004 issue of the Lifeboat for more on how complex 'number crunching' underpins the RNLI's lifesaving service.Wow! Twelve months after its opening by HM The Queen, The Lifeboat College has been awarded 'Medium-sized project of the year' at the 2005 Quality in Construction Awards. The RNLI development came top in a shortlist of four projects in the £5M-£50M range, with judges declaring that the design has the 'wow factor'.

Contractor Dean and Dyball's Regional Director Andy Crawford said: 'It is a complete surprise and delight to win this prestigious award. I am especially pleased for my staff who worked so hard to deliver the project on time, within budget, and to the exacting standards demanded by the RNLI.' The public will be able to see The Lifeboat College at Poole and its facilities at close hand when its doors are flung open on Saturday 16 July 2005. The day will see the assembly of an RNLI fleet representing every class of lifeboat, including rescue hovercraft.

There will be demonstrations in the College's survival pool and visitors will be able to experience first hand the world's first lifeboat simulator; walk aboard the lifeboats; attend various workshops and talks; and of course meet the crews and lifeguards.

Children and adults are all welcome.

Don't forget that members of the RNLI can visit the College on any day of the year. Why not stay for a weekend break or simply book a meal in Riggers Restaurant or have a drink in The Slipway Bar? All income from the College is ploughed back into the RNLI and so helps to save lives at sea. For more information or to book please call 0870 833 2000.Crucial skills More than 90 people from all over Britain attended a highly successful sea safety weekend at The Lifeboat College, Poole, in March this year. Organised in conjunction with Practical Boat Owner magazine, the weekend was the first of its kind.

Weymouth lifeboat Coxswain Andy Sargeant, a helicopter pilot from RNAS Culdrose and a watch officer from Portland Coastguard showed how the agencies work together to locate and evacuate casualties. A range of hands-on workshops then gave participants the chance to practise life-saving skills including setting off flares, rigging a tow and, in the survival pool, getting into a life raft in waves and darkness. Motorboat owners Tony and Debbie Raven said: 'After this weekend we'll be far better prepared should the worst ever happen.'An added bonus came when several delegates took out RNLI membership.

All boat owners can book a free Safety Equipment Advisory (SEA) check with volunteers in their locality by contacting the RNLI's sea safety team on 0800 628 0600.Membership rates From September 2005, RNLI membership rates will be as follows.

Shoreline single Shoreline joint Offshore single Offshore joint Governor single Governor joint Life Governor (One-off payment) Storm Force children's club UK £24.00 £42.00 £60.00 £102.00 £72.00 £120.00 £1,750.00 £7.50 Rol €34.00 €60.00 €86.00 €146.00 €103.00 €172.00 €2,512.00 €10.50 nside Out As part of BBC TV's regional Inside Out series, south and south west presenter Chris Packham underwent the rigours of the RNLI's sea survival training course at The Lifeboat College. Once all the health and safety and risk assessments had been completed, Chris was able to be involved just like any other trainee crew member. He soon found himself soaked and floating with inflated lifejacket in the 4m-deep survival pool.

It was obvious that Chris found what happened next a real challenge. Training not to 'lose it' in the worst situations that lifeboat crews find themselves in - abandoning ship, clambering into a cramped life raft in the dark with simulated howling wind, rain and lightning for company - is certainly not for the faint hearted.

Chris concluded that The Lifeboat College, with its Survival Centre, really is in a class of its own when it comes to preparing RNLI volunteers for the dangers of saving lives at sea.

n the blood Earlier in the year, BBC Radio 4's Home Truths featured presenter David Stafford in conversation with Aileen Jones, Porthcawl helmsman and RNLI Bronze Medal awardee.The interview demonstrated how volunteering for the RNLI is very much a family thing. Aileen's husband Steve is also a helmsman, their 17-year-old daughter Frances has begun her crew training and 14-year-old son Dan 'can hardly wait'.

Aileen received her award for gallantry in London in May (see page 2) for her role in the rescue of two fishermen. See the spring 2005 issue of the Lifeboat for the full story.

A family connection with a former Padstow lifeboat led the producer of BBC Radio 4's Open Country to make a half-hour feature about the town and the station. Gabi Fisher's great grandfather, Samuel Brown, was Coxswain of the Arab, a lifeboat that was also crewed by the great grandfather of the present day station mechanic, Michael England.

Broadcast in March, the programme revealed a common thread amongst the Padstow community - the lifeboat.

Presenter Richard Uridge interviewed volunteer crew members, Coxswain Alan Tarby, and passionate fundraiser Mary Taylor, whose family has been part of the lifeboat for five generations. The crew's team spirit was highlighted, borne out of their training together with the common aim of saving lives at sea. (Look out for news of a major new development at Padstow in the next issue of the Lifeboat.).