StormFest 160 - Torbay RNLI’s 160th anniversary event on 22 August across Torbay

Especially recognised in the events will be the contribution – often unsung – of women, who on the night of the Great Storm, saved countless lives in Brixham.

The day will begin early in Teignmouth, where a gig rowing boat, specially wrapped by a member of Torbay RNLI’s volunteer crew in the colours of a 19^th century lifeboat, will be manually pulled through the streets and along the seafront starting from Teignmouth RNLI Lifeboat Station.

Multiple teams of pullers, including women dressed in period costume specially made by a local sewing group, and drawn from current crew members, families of crew members and rowers from Brixham Gig Rowing Club, will take part. The gig’s journey recreates the events of the Great Storm in 1866, when Teignmouth RNLI volunteers were called upon to haul their lifeboat overland from Teignmouth to Torquay to assist in rescuing sailors in peril in Tor Bay.

Following a journey to Babbacombe, a slow walk alongside the gig boat will take place on Babbacombe Downs before the gig pull resumes again at Meadfoot. A final pull then takes place along the promenade past the Princess Theatre in Torquay ending at the harbourside at Beacon Quay. After a few words by Torbay RNLI’s newly-appointed coxswain, Richard Fowler, to mark the occasion, the gig boat will then be launched into the water.

Crewed by three current Torbay RNLI volunteers and four rowers from the Brixham Gig Rowing Club, the gig boat will then be rowed across Tor Bay to Brixham harbour. A flotilla of current and historic lifeboats from south Devon RNLI lifeboat stations, as well as gig boats from Brixham Gig Rowing Club and other Torbay-based gig rowing clubs, will accompany them on the three-mile row.

Shortly before the boats’ arrival in Brixham’s inner harbour, a special performance in period dress by the Brixham-based South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company will evoke the tragic events of the Great Storm in 1866. Following the boats’ arrival, a Service of Commemoration led by Helen Lovell-Smith of the Fishermen’s Misson, will formally remember the tragic events of January 1866 and give thanks for the contribution of Torbay RNLI since 1866.

The day’s events round off with a live music and local street food festival at the Old Coastguard House, Kings Quay, Brixham Harbour. Local artists and bands, headlined by Freeway, will perform through the afternoon and late into the evening. A selection of the best of the bay’s local food including mouth-watering, freshly-prepared seafood dishes using locally-caught seafood, a hog roast and burgers, plus locally-made cakes to finish will be available to enjoy. Locally-brewed beers and ales, plus local cider, wine and non-alcoholic drinks will be served throughout the day.

There’ll be fun for all the family, too, with face-painting and a children’s entertainment area during the afternoon. A raffle, with over 30 prizes donated by generous local businesses and organised by Brixham-based Camplins Cakes, will be drawn in the late afternoon.

The event celebrates and commemorates not only the events of 160 years ago. With over 70 ‘shouts’ so far this year, Torbay RNLI has been as busy as ever and the event gives the Torbay volunteers – lifeboat crew, fundraisers, water safety advisors and many others – the chance to say thank you to the local community and local businesses for the support they continue to give for the essential service they provide. A host of local businesses have helped stage this year’s special anniversary event. Inter-Line Building Supplies, celebrating their 50^th anniversary this year, are the event’s main sponsors. Other event supporters include Brixham Gig Rowing Club and SWISCo who’ve enabled the gig pull and row to take place. Bays Brewery, Brixham Trawler Agents, Caterfood SW, Coombe Fisheries, D& D Cleaning Services, Guardhouse Café, More Seafood and Sefton have supplied the locally-brewed ales & beers, locally-caught seafood and catering supplies. And Havills Electrical Services (celebrating their 80^th anniversary this year) and Light it Up Torbay have donated their time and resources to power and illuminate the event.

Torbay RNLI Coxswain, Richard Fowler, summed up the event saying, ‘We’ve got a really special day of events planned for Teignmouth, Torquay and Brixham. It’s been a real community effort to put it all together, and we thank the many local businesses and individuals for all their help and support. We can’t wait to spend time with them, and our many supporters, colleagues, friends and families. And as I’ll be rowing across the bay in the anniversary gig boat myself, I’m hoping the weather’s fair and makes the journey as short as possible! As long as my hands can still raise a glass after the row, I’ll be happy.’

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Klaus Goddard, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South West, [email protected]

Kyle Reed, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for South West England, 07786 668847, [email protected]

Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for South West England, 07920 818807, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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