Harwich Lifeboat Station hosted a vibrant and successful Festival on The Quay on 13 July 2024, attracting many locals and visitors alike.
The event, part of the RNLI's 200th anniversary celebrations, featured a day full of activities, stalls, and entertainment, bringing the community together in support of their local lifeboat station.
The festival offered attendees the chance to view lifeboats, speak with the volunteer crew, and learn more about the crucial lifesaving work carried out by Harwich RNLI. There were also boat races, visiting heritage lifeboats, and displays by the Police Marine Unit and other emergency services. Various stalls, including crafts, homemade cakes, and street food vendors, provided a lively atmosphere for all ages.
Peter Bull, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Harwich, expressed his gratitude, saying: 'We saw lots of locals and would like to thank everyone who attended. Your support is invaluable to us.'
As the festival was winding down, the volunteer crew's commitment to saving lives at sea was put to the test with two call-outs.
The first emergency occurred just as the event was concluding. The crew was paged to respond to an emergency positioning beacon (EPIRB) signal transmitting from the Woodbridge area. The inshore lifeboat (ILB), supported by the search and rescue helicopter, conducted a thorough shoreline search. Despite their efforts, nothing was found, and the ILB returned to the station.
No sooner had the lifeboat been refuelled, and before the crew had changed out of their gear, the Coastguard requested assistance again. This time, the ILB was tasked with locating a paddleboard reported to be drifting two miles off the Felixstowe shore. With one crew member replaced, the ILB was relaunched.
The search benefited from clear conditions and slight seas, making it straightforward to locate the paddleboarder. Upon finding the individual, it was confirmed that he was not in distress and was making his way back to shore independently. The ILB was stood down after the Felixstowe Coastguard mobile team verified with the reporting member of the public that it was indeed the same person. The boat then returned to the station, where it was washed down and refuelled, ready for its next call-out.
Notes to Editor
The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Harwich RNLI is based on The Quay, Harwich. The lifeboat station was founded in 1829 and the volunteer crew use an all-weather Severn class lifeboat (ALB) The Albert Brown and B class lifeboat (ILB) Tierney, Harvey and Sonny Reid.
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Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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