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Graham
Raines MBE |
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Graham Raines MBE, RNLI Senior
Helmsman, retired from the boat crew
of the Hayling Island lifeboats on the
23rd August after 28 years
service to the RNLI. Graham, who
joined the voluntary lifeboat crew in
1976 when he was 17, was 45 on 23rd
August, which is the normal retirement
age for all inshore lifeboat crew.
This age limit is for medical reasons
as, over the years of service, the
lifeboat crew suffer considerable
strain on their knees and backs from
the hard buffeting in the lifeboats.
However, Graham will not be leaving
the lifeboat service. He will remain
part of the Hayling Island RNLI team
where his considerable experience is
much valued. He will also continue to
be part of RNLI working groups looking
at safety equipment and lifeboat
designs. |
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Graham was appointed MBE in the
Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2004 for
services to the Royal National
Lifeboat Institution. Graham said, “I
could not believe it when I received
the letter. It is an absolute honour
and great for Hayling Island lifeboat
station.” |
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When Graham was 15 he visited the
newly established RNLI lifeboat
station at Sandy Point as part of a
school project with a particular
interest as his great grandfather had
been a lifeboat man. He then became
more involved and helped to build the
new station which opened in 1975. At
that time he also visited the Isle of
Wight to see the building of the
Atlantic 21 lifeboat which was to be
stationed at Hayling Island. When the
lifeboat arrived on Hayling, Graham
would help to wash it down after it
had been on service and as soon as he
was 17 he joined the voluntary
lifeboat crew. He was promoted to
Helmsman in 1986 and until he retired
from the boat crew he was the most
senior helmsman at Hayling Island
Lifeboat Station. |
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During his 28 years of voluntary
service he has received a number
of RNLI awards. He was awarded a
Bronze Medal for Gallantry
in recognition of the courage and
determination displayed by him
when the lifeboat assisted in the
rescue in October 1988 of one of
the crew off a yacht near
Chichester Bar during a
south-westerly gale and very rough
seas. In 1989 he received The
Ralph Glister Award and The Walter
Groombridge Award for his part in
difficult rescues. Graham has also
received Thanks of the Institution
on Vellum in 1981 and for other
rescues during his career he has
received three Letters of Thanks
from the Director of the RNLI. In
2003 the RSPCA awarded a
Certificate of Thanks to him and
his crew for their part in the
rescue of three horses from the
East Winner Bank. |
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Graham said that his most memorable
event was when the Duchess of Kent
visited the lifeboat station in 1992.
There have been a number of rescues
that stand out clearly in his mind.
The rescues involving the lives of
children are amongst his worst
memories. |
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He joined the RNLI partly because
of his great grand father’s
connection but mainly because he
wanted to be part of a life saving
service. He said, “There is
nothing better than knowing you
have helped to save someone’s life
and reunite them with their
family”. He also said that “It is
the only charity where you can see
where the money has been spent,” a
view he was keen to promote during
his time on the local RNLI
fundraising committee.
Graham is the Site Manager at the
Hayling School and working on the
island meant that he was able to
respond to the call-out pager at
all times of the day and night.
His wife Rosie has always been
very supportive of his involvement
with the RNLI and they were both
thrilled when they attended the
Queen’s Garden Party in July where
they represented the RNLI. |
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