News Battered and brave A passing journalist captured one of the most iconic images of the RNLI’s history when he photographed the Scarborough lifeboat and crew in action in May 2005 (above). They were searching for a mother and her children who had been swept from the sea wall by a massive wave. The other half of the search and rescue (SAR) team that day comprised Master Air Crewman Nick Petch and his colleagues onboard their RAF helicopter (also photographed). Nick has now been awarded the Billy Deacon Search and Rescue Memorial Trophy for his actions.

Lowered repeatedly over razor-sharp rocks and into icy waters, Nick was undeterred, despite the imminent danger to his own life. He was battered by waves of such intensity that the spray was going through the helicopter’s rotors 20m above, for over an hour. Conditions made it impossible for him to place a rescue harness around the casualties so he had to physically grasp them from the freezing maelstrom.

Now in its fifth year year the Trophy is awarded to winch operators and winchmen from the Coastguard, RAF and Royal Navy taking part in SAR helicopter operations from UK bases (see page 8). Overseen by a committee chaired by the RNLI’s Operations Director,Michael Vlasto, it is sponsored by Bristow Helicopters and Breitling UK, and was established to further the memory of Coastguard Winchman Billy Deacon who died during the Green Lily incident in 1997 (see page 38). Billy’s son Alan attended Nick’s presentation and said: ‘This award is so important to my family, and Nick is an extremely deserving recipient.’ His great example Soldier, author, philanthropist and founder of the RNLI, Sir William Hillary died 160 years ago and is buried at St George’s Church in Douglas, Isle of Man. The annual service in his memory will be held at St George’s as the Lifeboat is mailed, on 7 January 2007.

His own service on the Douglas lifeboat was as notable as his far-sighted work to unite the service: he helped to rescue more than 500 people and was awarded three RNLI Gold Medals for Gallantry.

A dramatic memorial in his home town reads: ‘What his wisdom planned and the power enforced, more potent still his great example showed.’ Honour and pride A coxswain, a helmsman and their crews, already given Gallantry awards by the RNLI, have now received national recognition.

As reported in the Lifeboat Spring 2006, Senior Helmsman Gavin Forehead and Crew Members James Watkins and Rory Bushe of St Agnes, Cornwall, rescued a 12-year-old girl and a family friend after they were overwhelmed by surf and washed into a cave. Gavin, James and Rory are now proud recipients of the combined Vodaphone Daily Express Sky News National Life Savers Awards and met the Prime Minister in a reception at No. 10.

The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society has awarded its Lady Swaythling Trophy to Falmouth’s Coxswain Mark Pollard for his ‘outstanding feat of seamanship’ in preventing a 32m merchant ship with eight people on board grounding in force 9–11 winds and darkness (once again, see the Lifeboat Spring 2006 for a full account).

Meanwhile, one of the RNLI’s most remote lifeboat stations and two of its most recently established have gained RNLI Gallantry awards.

Barra Island’s Bronze Medal service is described on page 20 of this issue while Helmsman Aidan O’Connor from Crosshaven lifeboat station (opened in 2001) and Crew Member Nicky Searls from Kinsale (2003) have received Thanks of the Institution on Vellum. Their services bore a striking resemblance to two reported in the last issue of the Lifeboat, at Bridlington and Achill Island respectively. In Crosshaven and Bridlington’s rescues, a lone swimmer, face down in the water, was reached by an inshore lifeboat despite serious risk of capsize in heavy breaking seas. In the case of Kinsale and Achill Island, a woman had fallen from a cliff and was attended to in cramped and precarious conditions. Dear Reader Welcome to the Winter 2006/07 issue of the Lifeboat.

We start the year celebrating teamwork, with a centre pull-out picture of the RNLI crew and lifeguards of St Agnes alongside other local lifesavers.

The RNLI has a long and proud history of working alongside other rescue organisations, which continues today.

Turn to page 8 to meet the Culdrose search and rescue helicopter crew who team up with lifeboat crews in the south west of England.

The Barra Island Coxswain will be awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry later this year. Coxswain MacLeod led an exceptional rescue off the Isle of Barra, but he’s the first person to stress that he couldn’t have saved lives without his crew (see page 20).

Other volunteers, fundraisers and donors all play a vital role in the RNLI team and in this issue we bring you a selection of their extraordinary and inspirational stories. Joel Grunnill (81) recounts some of his adventures (see page 14), and on page 31 we pay our respects to the late Anne Bache, whose generosity will help save lives for many years to come.

We thank you for being part of the RNLI team and in particular for your magnificent response to our appeals over the past year, easing the financial deficit we reported. All best wishes for 2007.

The RNLI Publications and Design team Charlie and Edith respond to the SOS Two celebrities are adding their support to RNLI SOS day, Friday 26 January 2007.

Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman and ex-Eastenders and Bleak House actress Charlie Brooks are the new ‘recruits’.

They are both calling on people to brighten up January by donating at least £1/€2 to wear trainers instead of normal shoes, or to hold a ‘dress-down’ or themed day at their place of work, school or other group.

Edith Bowman, from Anstruther, Fife, says: ‘Growing up in a coastal town, I am aware of the important role of the RNLI lifeboat crews to those on or by the sea.

This is why I am supporting RNLI SOS day to help raise valuable funds for crew training.Wear your trainers on 26 January and support the volunteers who risk their lives for those in trouble at sea.’ Nowadays fewer than 10% of new lifeboat crew come from a professional maritime background and so training is more important than ever before.

Charlie Brooks, whose father was an RNLI volunteer crew member at Barmouth, says: ‘I was staggered to discover that training costs the RNLI an average of £1,000 per crew member every year and that’s why it’s so important for everyone to support SOS day.

‘It’s a great opportunity to have some fun while raising valuable funds to enable RNLI volunteers to do their jobs in the safest way, so please do your bit and order a pack today.’ There’s still time for you to sign up for RNLI SOS day. Simply call Supporter Care at Headquarters on 0845 121 4999 or visit rnli.org.uk/sos for your free fundraising pack. A rapid response Thanks to the enthusiasm of readers of the Lifeboat, crew members, fundraising volunteers, corporate companies and more, the RNLI’s Train one, save many campaign has brought in more than £5M (€7M). This is half the original five-year target and has been achieved in only 18 months – a remarkable achievement.

The campaign focuses on the need to spend on extensive training for lifeboat crews and lifeguards so as to equip them properly and keep them safe in their lifesaving work. This need is ever greater with the increasing complexity of lifeboats and kit and with only 1 in 10 volunteers having sea-going experience.

For more information and to keep up to date with the campaign, check out rnli.org.uk/crewtraining. Pen friends When you next order stationery or office equipment over the web, the RNLI’s new partner netstationers can help you save money – and the RNLI will benefit too.

Whether you’re after just packets of paper and toner cartridges or complete sets of office furniture, netstationers offer a low-cost and efficient service. Peter Murphy from netstationers says:‘We guarantee that we can match or beat the cost of your current supplier through our extensive use of technology.’ Further, netstationers have agreed to donate to the RNLI 5% of the value of every order placed by an RNLI supporter at www.rnli.netstationers.co.uk. They aim to raise £100,000 for the RNLI in 2007 through this partnership, but to achieve this target, they need your help.

To find out more, visit www.rnli.netstationers.co.uk, call 0845 658 2023 or email [email protected].

Meanwhile, you might have received a small calendar from netstationers as part of a ‘thank you’ mailing by the RNLI to its supporters at Christmas. Flight of fancy Romantic readers of the Lifeboat are invited to treat their loved one to a Valentine’s gift of a Virgin Balloon Flight.Virgin is offering flight vouchers worth £285 per person at an amazing 50% off – and donating £5 to the RNLI for each voucher sold.

The ‘Adventure Pack’ includes: transport to your launch site (one of a hundred or more in England, Scotland or Wales); a champagne toast to celebrate the occasion; a commemorative certificate signed by Sir Richard Branson and your pilot; and other souvenirs of the day, all on top of the experience itself and at the special rate of just £142.50 per person.

To book your flight of fancy, call 0870 444 2768 and quote ‘RNLI’ or go to virginballoonflights.co.uk by 28 February 2007.

Terms and conditions Offer valid until 28 February 2007 and relates to a Virgin Balloon Flights Adventure Pack (RRP £285), which is valid for one year from its start date, which you can specify at the time of purchase.Voucher price includes VAT and is £142.50 for one person. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. This promotion is only open to readers of the Lifeboat and RNLI staff. A full copy of Virgin Balloon Flights’ voucher terms and conditions is available upon request. Full postal address for Head Office of Virgin Balloon Flights is Jesson House, Stafford Court,Telford, Shropshire,TF3 3BD.Youngsters aged 7–16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Passengers must be at least 4’6” in height. Offer not valid in Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for flying, but vouchers may be purchased and used for launch sites in England (excluding London), Scotland and Wales.Virgin is unable to fly passengers who are pregnant. Reader competition South Africa’s Bonnievale Cellar has launched a pair of new wines in honour of the RNLI. Southern Lights Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc will be on sale during 2007 at a supermarket near you and, for each bottle sold, the RNLI will receive 10p for its Train one, save many campaign.

Bonnievale won two bronze and three silver medals at the 2006 London International Wine and Spirits Competition. RNLI supporters now have an exclusive chance to win half a dozen bottles to try for themselves.

Two prizes of six bottles each of Southern Lights (three red and three white) are up for grabs.

To enter, simply send your name, address and supporter number by email to [email protected] or on a postcard to ‘Southern Lights Prize Draw’, c/o Supporter Care, RNLI Headquarters by 28 February 2007. You must be aged 18 or over. Two winners will be picked at random from all entries received by that date and notified by 31 March 2007. Give as you spend If you’re confused and doubtful about the conflicting claims of credit card companies, the RNLI can help put your mind at rest with its Lifeboats MasterCard.

Thousands of supporters already have a Lifeboats credit card and, via the card sponsors, RBS, provide approximately £80,000 of donations to the RNLI each year simply by using their card. Now the card is being relaunched with more beneficial terms.

For each new card taken out, the RNLI will receive £15 and if annual spend is £2,000 or more, a bonus £5 donation is triggered. In addition, the donations the RNLI receives from all Lifeboats MasterCards has increased to 30p for every £100 of spend. All of this is possible simply by using the card instead of cash or a debit card. Card holders who pay off their monthly balance and pay no interest still earn the RNLI the same rate of income. Of course the RNLI benefits doubly if the card is used to buy gifts from the RNLI gift catalogue or online shop, and in making donations or paying membership subscriptions.

To find out more or to apply for a Lifeboats MasterCard call 0800 444201 or visit rnli.org.uk/lifeboatsmastercard. .