‘THIS BRAVE OLD SEAMAN’

I thought you might be interested in the enclosed taken from The Seamen of the Downs by the Rev Thomas Treanor, c1890s.

‘… There is a Norse flavour about the name of Jarvist Arnold, for many years coxswain of the Kingsdown lifeboat Sabrina. This brave, fine old seaman still survives, and still his eye kindles, and his voice still rings, as with outstretched hand and fire unquenched by age he tells of grapples with death on the Goodwin Sands. He is no longer, alas! equal to the arduous post which he nobly held for 20 years … but still he is regarded with reverence and affection, and the rescue of the crew of the Sorrento and the story of the ‘old cork fender’ will always be honourably associated with his name.’

I am 95, and Jarvist Arnold was my great grandfather. My mother, who was born in 1889 remembered him in her childhood. Obviously I am very proud of him – a hero from the days of rowed or sailed lifeboats. How amazed he would be to see the lifeboats of today!

It would be so nice if he could, perhaps, be mentioned in the magazine!

June Brockson (also known by many as Peggy in the BBC Radio programme The Archers)

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‘I WILL REACH FOR MY PURSE’

Your article about fundraising brought back several memories to me.

As kids in Surrey we knew about the RNLI because my grandfather in Port Erin, Isle of Man, would always take us to the Lifeboat House when we visited him on holiday. We all put donations in the box whenever we saw one – the slipway collecting box was particularly popular.

Some years later (but still a long time ago) my husband and I took a trip out to Lundy on the SS Oldenberg. On the way back we were wonderfully entertained by the local lifeboat (George Gibson, Appledore) doing an exercise practising taking a person off the SS Oldenberg. As we queued to disembark, everyone was looking for their purses to make donations to the RNLI. Unfortunately there was nobody with a collecting tin – I even went in search of a donation tin without success. I know there are all sorts of regulations about when you can collect, but I hope you can make better use of training exercises now.

Nowadays I donate the easy way through my work payroll, but if I ever see a slipway box, I will reach for my purse to launch the lifeboat!

Thank you for the memories, and keep up the good work!

Carol Stevenson
London

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FROM RNLI FANS ON FACEBOOK

We asked what you were looking forward to doing as the weather gets warmer – here are just some of the replies

‘Well the kids have been disappointed by the lack of snow here on the north Norfolk coast so we can’t wait to get sledging on the sand this Summer. Also, sliding across the salty mud to gather samphire – green as sea glass and completely delicious!’

The Partridge family of Barnhouse Holiday Cottages, Norfolk

‘We are waiting for the sunny days so we can get out on the water. And 1–4 August, the city of Aalborg will be the finish line for the Tall Ship race 2015, with 96 of greatest ships in the world … that’s gonna be awesome!’
Camilla Karsten Jensen, Denmark

‘Looking forward to hot sunny days so we can go scuba diving in blue clear waters around Anglesey, diving on the many wrecks that are scattered on the seabed followed by BBQ and beers on the beach with great friends, watching the sun go down over the bay – fantastic!’
Mark Webber

‘Looking forward to enjoying the view again on Porthmeor, St Ives.’
Bex Bruce

‘Looking forward to taking my new kayak down to Woolacombe for a bit of surfing and then over to the Ardèche in France for a bit of white water fun.’ Dan Owen

‘Week’s holiday in Dumfries and Galloway right by the Solway Firth; beautiful walks, breathtaking coastal views. Go and look at one or two local RNLI stations.’
Reuben Manuel, London

‘My son was very ill for most of 2014 so for us just some warm days to get him out and about in his wheelchair; preferably at the coast.’
Janet Manchester, Stevenage