Blackpool Driver also RNLI Volunteer

[Requeststop]

Just been sent a programme, "Saving Lives at Sea" featuring a Blackpool driver who is also a Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteer. Name of Sean or Shaun.

Just got to say that my admiration for the man is immense. I was brought up between St Ives and Penzance where there are two RNLI Stations and I have the deepest respect to all who volunteer for this excellent organization.

Hopefully, someone who reads these forums can pass on my most heart-full respect to him.

 

[Phil.]

There used to be - perhaps he still is - a Long Rock shunter who was a crewman on the Penlee boat.

 

[Class 170101]

I wonder how this works in practise?

I watched a programme many years ago and the volunteers were local people who seemed to work and live locally. How does a driver work 'locally'? A Blackpool Driver I guess could be on the other wide of a country when he / she gets a call.

 

[theironroad]

I wonder how this works in practise?

I watched a programme many years ago and the volunteers were local people who seemed to work and live locally. How does a driver work 'locally'? A Blackpool Driver I guess could be on the other wide of a country when he / she gets a call.

I'm more than happy to be corrected by those with actual frontline rnli experience,but my understanding is that when the rnli station gets a shout from the relevant hm coastguard station, they send a pager message (maybe updated tech there) to the volunteer crew members. Those who can respond do, those who can't don't. As there are more trained crew for the station than needed to crew one boat, there should be enough people turn up within the required time to get the boat afloat and on its way.

However, I looked into it briefly a number of years ago and understood that there was a requirement to live and work locally, so as to maximise availability. So, for me it wouldn't work because of the train driving.

The river Thames boats work in a different way to the vast majority of rnli crews and actually sit standby at the the station for a shift so are immediately available to respond.

I've the greatest respect for rnli volunteer crews who respond in all weather conditions in the most dangerous and roughest of sea conditions to save lives.

 

[IanXC]

The river Thames boats work in a different way to the vast majority of rnli crews and actually sit standby at the the station for a shift so are immediately available to respond.

The Humber Lifeboat takes this one step further, with full time employed crews used rather than the volunteer set up used everywhere else.

 

[306024]

A former Parkeston / Colchester driver and ASLEF official served on the Harwich lifeboat committee during First Great Eastern days. It was his idea to name a unit to promote the RNLI, hence 321444 Essex Lifeboats.

A replica nameplate is in the Harwich RNLI lifeboat station, along with the headboard from a steam rail tour 'The Lifeboat Express' that ran to Harwich Town around the same time. A donation of £500 (if memory serves) was made to the Harwich RNLI from proceeds from a raffle held on the train. Both are on view to the public when the RNLI shop is open.

Another former Colchester driver has been in the Harwich lifeboat crew in the past.

 

[Western Lord]

Obviously, there are some jobs where the volunteer cannot drop everything and rush off to the lifeboat house. In years gone by many lifeboat crew were local fishermen, who may have been out at sea when the alarm was raised. I don't suppose many surgeons are lifeboat crew but they obviously wouldn't drop everything in the middle of an operation!
The Blackpool driver is a volunteer at a station which only has inshore lifeboats, so no service is likely to be very long. At an all weather station, the boat could be out for twelve hours or more, which means that the crew would be in no fit state to undertake any safety critical job the next day.

 

[313103]

When i was a Guard on the North London Line i worked with a driver who was always on call for rescuing people trapped inside Mountain especially those where water were involved.

On more then one occasion he would be relived from his train and taken to the site often in Derbyshire. He has now retired.

I wonder what other volunteers do other outstanding and often dangerous roles outside of there normal day to day life.

 

[jj1314]

Just been sent a programme, "Saving Lives at Sea" featuring a Blackpool driver who is also a Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteer. Name of Sean or Shaun.

Just got to say that my admiration for the man is immense. I was brought up between St Ives and Penzance where there are two RNLI Stations and I have the deepest respect to all who volunteer for this excellent organization.

Hopefully, someone who reads these forums can pass on my most heart-full respect to him.

I used to work with an RNLI volunteer based in Blackpool when I worked offshore. I won't name him but he was a fantastic guy and definitely someone you appreciated having at the helm when working a 12-metre wreck in choppy seas! Great sense of humour, too.

Coincidentally I was also brought up between PZ and St Ives. Small world!

 

[DarloRich]

It must be hard to hold down a volunteer role like this and work shifts

When i was a Guard on the North London Line i worked with a driver who was always on call for rescuing people trapped inside Mountain especially those where water were involved.

On more then one occasion he would be relived from his train and taken to the site often in Derbyshire. He has now retired.

I wonder what other volunteers do other outstanding and often dangerous roles outside of there normal day to day life.

I have 2 examples:

The first was one of geography teachers who was in the mountain rescue. A couple of times he was collected from the cricket square by a search and rescue helicopter! Very exciting when you are a kid

The second is my friend who is a publican and volunteer ( retained?) fireman in the Dales. I was visiting him one day when the call alarm went off as he was serving. Mind the pub he shouted to me as he sprinted out leaving a locked till..................... ( very exciting when an adult )

 

[matchmaker]

I'm more than happy to be corrected by those with actual frontline rnli experience,but my understanding is that when the rnli station gets a shout from the relevant hm coastguard station, they send a pager message (maybe updated tech there) to the volunteer crew members. Those who can respond do, those who can't don't. As there are more trained crew for the station than needed to crew one boat, there should be enough people turn up within the required time to get the boat afloat and on its way.

However, I looked into it briefly a number of years ago and understood that there was a requirement to live and work locally, so as to maximise availability. So, for me it wouldn't work because of the train driving.

The river Thames boats work in a different way to the vast majority of rnli crews and actually sit standby at the the station for a shift so are immediately available to respond.

I've the greatest respect for rnli volunteer crews who respond in all weather conditions in the most dangerous and roughest of sea conditions to save lives.

Former RNI crew member then launching authority here...that's pretty much what happens, but when I was involved there was no rule that you had to both live and work near to the station.

 

[eMeS]

So, how does this work then if you live, say, 3 miles from the RNLI station? Are you required to jump on a fast motor-bike and speed to the RNLI station? What about insurance? liabilities to 3rd. parties etc.?

 

[jopsuk]

you get there safely obeying all traffic laws. Simple. Don't take risks.

Think there's still one or two stations that use maroons (fireworks built for their bang rather than the sparkle) as well the pagers. In the old days they were as much a way of letting the community know there was an incident as of alerting the lifeboatmen

 

[rf_ioliver]

I'm more than happy to be corrected by those with actual frontline rnli experience,but my understanding is that when the rnli station gets a shout from the relevant hm coastguard station, they send a pager message (maybe updated tech there) to the volunteer crew members. Those who can respond do, those who can't don't.

The RNLI can also ask members of the public to assist.

Back in the 90s we were working on our dive boat in Brighton when the Brighton RNLI came over and asked us whether we could help (nb: we had dry suits on, so fairly well prepared anyway).

My friend at the time wanted to be skipper for the day; and regretted his decision after I got chosen Fortunately it was just to go an tow a sailing boat back after a minor accident and nothing more serious.

Anyway, we both got our names in the RNLI volunteers book and a trip out on their boat to experience how fast one of the RNLI RIBs can go


t.

Ian

 

[matchmaker]

you get there safely obeying all traffic laws. Simple. Don't take risks.

Think there's still one or two stations that use maroons (fireworks built for their bang rather than the sparkle) as well the pagers. In the old days they were as much a way of letting the community know there was an incident as of alerting the lifeboatmen

As well as the pagers, I always fired the maroons. It was a small community, so it let everyone know that there was a shout.

 

[apk55]

The mountain rescue organization works in a similar way, with volunteers doing other jobs being prepared to drop all and come and help with search and rescue. I am sure there must be rail staff who are involved.

 

[broadgage]

you get there safely obeying all traffic laws. Simple. Don't take risks.

Think there's still one or two stations that use maroons (fireworks built for their bang rather than the sparkle) as well the pagers. In the old days they were as much a way of letting the community know there was an incident as of alerting the lifeboatmen

Most lifeboat volunteers drive to the boathouse, as quickly as is both safe and legal.
Some have slightly modified the electrical system of their cars, such that operating a single switch disables all the interior lights of the vehicle. This is a most useful feature for a night launch, the eyes of the volunteer become at least partially dark adapted whilst driving to the lifeboat station.
For the same reason, the boathouse is equipped with dim red lighting for night launches.
Even with radar and modern night vision equipment, keen dark adapted eyesight is still very useful for locating a stricken vessel or person.