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Lifeboats calling for more recruits to join
LIFEBOAT SUPPORT: Port Erin RNLI lifeboat crew members are presented with a �400 cheque by members of Southern Young Farmers (SYF). The money was raised at this years Young Farmers Concerts. The cheque was presented by Alison Ennett, chairman of SYF, to Juan Crawley, deputy launching authority for Port Erin lifeboat, who are pictured with SYF members and lifeboat crew.
JOIN this organisation and you get world-class training, learn vital new skills, could get to drive a very powerful boat and potentially experience the immeasurable reward that comes with saving a life.
There are many reasons people should become involved in the RNLI, said Adele Fuller, community fundraising manager with responsibility for the island.
‘It’s not that onerous as people think,’ she explained. ‘Being on the crew would not affect someone running a small business, for example.
‘You could live in Port Erin and still be on the crew if you worked in Douglas. We want people to come in and have a cup of tea and talk to us.’
She added: ‘You get training at our centre at Poole, there is capsize training with all different conditions. You learn how to launch a boat, how to read charts, first aid – there are a lot of life skills.
‘For someone interested in joining the navy, they could use it as a stepping stone. You could be an accountant from Douglas, you do not have to be seafaring.’
The recruitment drive is particularly acute in Port Erin, where the threat of it becoming a restricted service (operating only in the evenings) hangs over it if enough crew members are not involved.
Port St Mary could also do with more crew members, she said.
But help would be welcomed in all areas – from fundraising to manning the lifeboat – at both lifeboat stations.
Justin Unsworth, 43, has been on the crew of Port Erin lifeboat for eight years. He lives in Port Erin, but works full-time as an accountant at Bidvest in Douglas.
‘You learn a whole stack of skills from some of the best teachers of that in the world,’ he said. ‘The courses they run and the equipment they have is some of the best in the world. It’s at the top of its game, it is life saving that is of world gold standard.’
‘There is a certain amount of responsibility on your shoulders – you are saving someone’s life, that’s an awesome responsibility – but it’s a good responsibility, there is a certain camaraderie you have working together.’
Phil Crellin, 53, has been involved with Port Erin lifeboat for more than 20 years, first as a crew member until the age of 45, after which he became deputy launching officer.
He said: ‘It’s a proud thing and you feel very humble when you do rescue people. You learn a lot, the training is second to none, it gives you life skills that are important.
‘It’s the whole ethos of saving lives at sea, putting time in and getting a sense of accomplishment out of it.’
There is enough flexibility in the organisation to accommodate the demands of normal life, added Justin.
‘Most of the time I enjoy it, although it can be quite intense,’ he said. ‘On Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings there is training.
‘The beauty of being in a group is it is not always on your shoulders to do stuff – it’s not like a job where you have to be there 9 to 5.’
He added: ‘It’s exciting, your pager goes off, it’s an exciting thing to do. Even if you are not on the boat you are at the station, listening to the coms [communications], talking about it afterwards. You are at the sharp end of the whole search and rescue business.’
A highlight of Justin’s experience so far was rescuing a man whose boat capsized near the Calf of Man.
‘He had been in the water for half an hour,’ he said. ‘We found the nose of his boat in the water, and had to figure out where he was. We spotted him from quite a distance away and pulled him out, he was so pleased to see us.
‘It’s that sigh of relief they breath when you bring them back.’
• To find out more about Port Erin lifeboat, go to the boathouse at the Raglan Pier in Port Erin on Sunday mornings.
Information about Port St Mary lifeboat is available at the lifeboat house, which is manned during the week.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 36 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North west
