OLD LIFEBOAT, NEW COUNTRY

Some years after I had retired as Mallaig lifeboat Coxswain/Mechanic, I discovered that my old Arun class lifeboat (pictured) had been sold to the Icelandic Rescue Service. So, after a deal of thought, I decided to visit my old boat in her new country.

En route from Glasgow to Iceland, my wife Ina and I flew over the east end of Loch Morar and had a very clear view of Mallaig, Morar and all of the islands to the west, basking in the sunshine: a shoreline that the Arun had served so well.

We arrived at Reykjavik in the early afternoon and, thanks to one of the Icelandic Rescue people, had a tour of the town.

Then he took us to Hafnarfjordur, a town about 25 miles south of Reykjavik where I saw my old boat once more and now renamed the Einar Sigurjónsson. The new name struck my wife and I as being a remarkable coincidence, as her first name is Ina and is pronounced exactly the same as Einar!

The following evening we were taken again to the boat and went out to sea in her, accompanied by another of their boats, a most impressive, waterjet-driven rigid inflatable. Back in the harbour, I gave them an Iona cross (it had become traditional to carry one on the Mallaig lifeboat) and a bottle of excellent Campbeltown malt whisky. They, in turn, gave us a lovely book of photographs of the rugged Icelandic scenery. I believe that the cross is now as important to them as it was to us.

The financial set-up of the Icelandic rescue services was most interesting. They get a very small grant from the government; the rest they must raise themselves. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip although the cost of living there amazed us – £6 for a pint of beer kept me sober!

The most pleasing part was seeing that my old boat is in very good hands indeed. They have not had her for very long, but already they have carried out several missions, love her and are justly very proud of her.

Tommy Ralston
Former Mallaig
Coxswain/Mechanic, Fife

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YOUR POSTS ON FACEBOOOK

‘My brother drowned’
People need to realise how strong undercurrents can be. My brother Lee drowned on 23 June 2009. It took a week for his body to be found. He had always swum in the sea at Weston-super-Mare. It just took a strong current and a sea temperature of 11 degrees for him to lose his life. Please support the RNLI. I will always be grateful for their help. My daughter helps out by going into schools on behalf of the RNLI in the Portsmouth area to talk about water safety.
Jayne Toogood

‘I got caught and dragged under’
I nearly drowned when I was 7 and got caught in a rip tide. Being out of my depth and not strong enough to swim against it, I got caught and dragged under. I got dragged to shore by my Dad. For many years I would not venture into the sea. I can, and do swim now, if I have to. I always wear a lifejacket on the yacht and would not let any children on the boat without a lifejacket. As you so rightly say: useless unless worn. I am also very cautious when the children are playing in coastal water. I have great respect for the sea. Jane MacGregor White

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The language of lifesaving
Anne Sears wrote to us about the value of putting basic survival information in local languages: ‘My husband, E.J. Sears one of your life members, was posted to Tanzania, to Mwanza on Lake Victoria in 1986–89. I was able to get the interest and help of some Boy and Girl Scouts to design a water safety leaflet in Kiswahili because many people in rural areas don’t speak or read English.’

Steve Wills, RNLI International Development Manager, replies: Thanks Anne. I was struck by the similarities with our lifeguard instructor and student manuals, which have been translated into six languages so far including Thai and Swahili. It’s so important to have these free, shareable materials – countries with developing lifesaving services often struggle with limited resources. What you’ve sent in really proves the impact that local people can make, taking action to tackle drowning in their own communities.