Cleethorpes RNLI called to two rescues after scattering supporters’ ashes
The volunteer crew of Cleethorpes lifeboat said farewell to two long-term supporters on Sunday February 3, when they scattered the ashes at sea of David and Diane Tovey, who had raised funds for the lifeboat for many years by holding bake sales from their home.
David and Diane were well known in the local area and the crew were privileged to be asked by their families to assist with the committal of their ashes, along with those of their two dogs who also passed recently.
Having concluded a brief ceremony in the mouth of the River Humber, the crew continued with their planned exercise but were soon flagged down by a fishing vessel which had engine problems and requested a tow to Grimsby.
Having seen the boat and her two crew safely alongside at Grimsby Marina, the lifeboat returned to Cleethorpes was only just refuelled when another leisure fishing vessel in the river radioed for immediate assistance as they had lost power and were anchored in the main shipping channel near Grimsby, directly in the path of large cargo vessels leaving the port.
The crew quickly relaunched and attended the vessel before passing the tow over to the Humber Lifeboat which had also been called because of the size and location of the incident.
The crew of the Humber Lifeboat then towed that boat, with 5 persons on board, into Grimsby Marina while Cleethorpes Lifeboat returned to station once again.
Mick Fowler, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Cleethorpes RNLI, said “Everyone here misses David and Diane, they were great supporters of the station. It was an honour to be able to assist in their last goodbye, and they would have been delighted that the boat was involved in two rescues while taking them to their final resting place.”
ENDS
For more information, contact Matt McNally, Lifeboat Press Officer at Cleethorpes, on 07771-797556.
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