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News & Events  February 2003 to December 2004
 

The Selsey RNLI Tyne Class lifeboat "The City of London" visited Hayling Island Sailing Club during a routine training exercise on Monday 27th December where they met some of the crew from Hayling Island Lifeboat Station.


 

Andy Peasley, who joined the crew in 2002, was passed out by the RNLI’s Divisional Deputy Inspector as a D Class Helmsman on Tuesday 14th December. Andy recently completed the week-long helmsman’s course at the RNLI’s training college in Poole but needed a final assessment in the Hayling Island D Class lifeboat.   Trevor Pearce presented a print of Hayling Island Lifeboat Station on behalf of the Hayling crew to Bob Woodwark DC Solent Coastguard at his retirement party.

Three more trainees, who have completed their probationary training year, were awarded with their RNLI crew jumpers at the lifeboat station’s Christmas party. It takes a year of dedication and hard work before lifeboat crew receive “the jumper”, the uniform of all voluntary RNLI lifeboat crew. Andy Ferguson will join the boat crew, and Martin Blackman, who initially trained with the boat crew, and Paul Taylor, will join the shore crew who drive the tractors and launch the lifeboats.

 

Martin Blackman, Andy Ferguson, Paul Taylor [left to right]


Graham Raines received his MBE from the Queen on Tuesday 16th November.
More info

Remembrance Day Parade
 
Hayling Island lifeboat crew took part in the island's Remembrance Day Parade on Sunday 14th November. Wreaths were laid  on behalf of the RNLI, at the memorials in Elm Grove and St Mary's Church.
 
In the evening Hayling Island lifeboat crew attended the Salvation Army's Service of Remembrance in Portsmouth.

Langstone Raft Race

 
On 3rd July 2004 the Ship Inn hosted the annual Langstone Raft Race. From the money raised during the event, a cheque for £1,300 was presented to the Hayling Island lifeboat station at a celebration gathering held on the 8th November. Other local charities also received cheques. The landlord, John Delahunty, and his wife Rita were presented with an RNLI shield in recognition of their support for the RNLI.
 


On 4th November a presentation of a framed illustration of the lifeboat station was made to Lt. Col. John Q Davis and all the Team at the Harbour Office, Chichester Harbour Conservancy. It was from all "Hands" at the Hayling Island RNLI Lifeboat Station in gratitude for their support of the RNLI and for their active participation in setting up and maintaining the Chimet and Cambermet Weather Stations
 
[Left to right] Richard Craven, Deputy Harbour Master, Chichester Harbour Conservancy, Nigel Roper, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Haying Island, Peter Glasby, Chairman of Hayling Island Lifeboat Management Group, Roger Bleasby, Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Chichester Harbour Federation of Sailing Clubs, Nigel Pusinelli CMG, OBE, MC, Royal Yachting Association, Lt Col. John Q Davis RM,Harbour Master, Chichester Harbour Conservancy.
 

 

John Gallagher [right] presenting a cheque for £140 to Nigel Roper, Lifeboat Operations Manager, on Sunday 31st October. The money was raised by members of the Victory Athletic Club when they organised a 22 mile relay race around Hayling Island in early September. Congratulations to Hayling Island lifeboat crew member, Colin Parke, who was passed out as a B Class helmsman on 27th October.

Chichester Harbour Conservancy organise a number of guided walks around parts of Chichester Harbour. On Sunday 24th October the guided walk went along the foreshore of Eastoke Point, visiting the lifeboat station on route, where the walkers were able to watch the lifeboats launch on a routine training exercise.
 
For more information about guided walks and activities organised by Chichester Harbour Conservancy follow the link on the "Links" page.

Trevor Pearce, who is one of the shore crew at Hayling Island Lifeboat Station,  received a National Level Award at this year's recent National Training Award Ceremony held at Winchester Guildhall. Trevor, who runs a first aid training organisation and private ambulance, holds regular first aid training sessions at the lifeboat station.

Trevor Pearce and Sue Barker  


Donation in memory of the late Brian Thomas

 

On Sunday 17th October Joan Bounton, from Cowplain, presented the lifeboat station with a cheque for £9,191.25 In memory of her late nephew, Brian Thomas, who died 13 years ago.  Joan visited the station with her husband Alf and friend David Coxon and watched the lifeboats launch on exercise. Mrs Bounton’s late sister, (the late Brian Thomas’ mother) had donated a similar sum to the Haying Island Lifeboat Station about 10 years ago in memory of her son who had always been a keen supporter of the RNLI.

 

Nigel Roper,  Alf & Joan Bounton and David Coxon

1st Purbrook Explorer Scouts

 
Members of the 1st Purbrook Explorer Scouts visited the lifeboat station on Wednesday evening 29th September. They saw the lifeboats launch on exercise, watched a video about the RNLI and Nigel Roper gave them a talk about the RNLI service and sea safety.


Graham Raines MBE visited Power FM
 

On Friday 24th September Graham Raines was awarded the title "Meridian Television's local hero". The presentation was filmed by Meridian TV and will be broadcast in October. (more info)

Fred Dinenage, Graham Raines & Rachel Brooks

 

Photograph by Matt Streten


Paul Lewis,  Senior Helm

Paul Lewis was appointed a Senior Helm at Hayling Island Lifeboat Station  on 24th August 2004. Hayling Island lifeboat station operates a three watch system and Paul will now be responsible for managing the boat crew of "Red Watch". He is employed by Marina Development Ltd at Northney Marina where he is a hoist operator which involves moving boats on the land in and in the water and organising the layout of the boats in the yard.
Paul moved to Hayling Island in 1971 when he was 3 years old and has always been involved with the sea. Before he joined the RNLI he used to hear the maroons going off and wished the lifeboat crew well. He was introduced to the lifeboat station by one of the crew and in 1993 he joined the RNLI as a volunteer. After extensive training he qualified as a Helm in 1999. He lives near the lifeboat station with his partner and three step daughters and their many pets. In his leisure time he enjoys drawing, photography, swimming and restoring and riding motorbikes. 

On Sunday 29th August the Steward from the Farnborough Masonic Club, Geoff Andrews and his wife Beryl visited the station with six members of the Club to present the Hayling Island RNLI lifeboat station with a cheque for £1,850. Nigel Roper, LOM,  thanked all the members of the Club for this generous donation.


Damien Taylor, Graham Raines & Robert Briggs returning from exercise on 22nd August.

Graham Raines MBE

 

Graham Raines, Senior Helm at Hayling Island RNLI station retired from the boat crew on 23rd August 2004 after 28 years service.

 
On Sunday 22nd August crew members, family and friends welcomed Graham back to the lifeboat station after his last routine boat exercise before his retirement
 

more info


 
The 201st Islington Sea Scouts, who were camping on Hayling Island, visited the Lifeboat Station on Wednesday 18th August.
 

Sunday morning at the Hayling Island lifeboat station is an opportunity to catch up with some routine "housekeeping". Picture gallery click here

Emsworth RNLI Quay Sale
The Emsworth RNLI Fundraising Branch held its annual  sale of RNLI souvenirs, bric-a-brac, books  and boat jumble in aid of the RNLI on the quay by Emsworth Slipper Sailing Club. The two lifeboats from Hayling Island visited the quay. This is year the Branch raised £3,448.78 for the RNLI.
 

Selsey Lifeboat Launch Day

On Sunday 8th August 2004 Hayling Island's Atlantic 75 B Class lifeboat "Betty Battle" visited Selsey and participated in a "Search & Rescue" display. For more information look at  www.selseylifeboat.co.uk
Graham Raines

Thanks to Lynn Corbett Selsey LPO for the pictures

 Thanks to John Trapmore for the picture


Lifeboat College

New Lifeboat College Opens in Poole

The RNLI proudly welcomed its patron, Her Majesty The Queen, to its headquarters in Poole for the Royal Opening of the world’s first Lifeboat College on 28 July 2004. Robert Briggs, Senior Helmsman from Hayling Island Lifeboat Station attended the opening which was also the first time there has been a  gathering of a representative from each of the 233 RNLI lifeboat stations in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.   more info www.rnli.org.uk

Robert Briggs


HISC Visit

 
As part of Hayling Island Sailing Club's Family Fun Week, a group of members from HISC visited the lifeboat station on Wednesday 4th August.  The children had their picture taken sitting in the D Class lifeboat "Leonard Stedman". They had a tour of the lifeboat station, a talk about sea safety and watched both lifeboats being launched on a routine training exercise.

The Atlantic 75 "B" Class Lifeboat "Betty Battle" was launched on exercise on Wednesday 28th July and practiced a winching procedure with "India Juliet", Solent Coastguard's helicopter.

Dunannie School

A group of children and parents from Dunannie School visited the Lifeboat Station on Wednesday 30th June. Every Wednesday evening and Sunday morning the voluntary lifeboat crew take part in routine training exercises and on this particular evening the visitors were able to watch both lifeboats being launched. The children had their picture taken sitting in the D Class lifeboat "Leonard Stedman".


Open Day -  Sunday 20th June 2004

Lifeboat crew enjoying "Fathers' Day" at the lifeboat station       [left to right] - John Trapmore with Patrick, Andy Ferguson with James and John Robertson with George.

more info about Open Day

 


Chichester Harbour Working Boats

On 3rd June the lifeboats from Hayling Island went to  Itchenor to take part in the display of Harbour Working Boats organised by Chichester Harbour Conservancy.

 


Congratulations to Graham Raines MBE

Graham Raines, Senior Helmsman at Hayling Island Lifeboat Station has been appointed an MBE in the Queen's 2004 Birthday Honours list for services to the RNLI. Graham joined the RNLI  when he was 17 and has completed 28 years of voluntary life saving service.


"Betty Battle" returns

 "Betty Battle", Hayling Island's Atlantic 75 B Class lifeboat returned  to station on Wednesday 2nd June 2004 after a major refit. The lifeboat, which went to Cowes on 21st January 2004, was welcomed back by Mrs Betty Battle and Nigel Roper, Lifeboat Operation Manager. In 1995 Mrs Battle and her late husband, Derrick,  donated the Atlantic 75 B Class lifeboat to Hayling Island. The refit took place as part of the planned maintenance for all RNLI lifeboats. (pictures of refit)


 

Colin, Buster and a Buster look-alike
Colin ran for the station
 

Colin Trowles, who is a D Class helmsman at Hayling Island Lifeboat Station, ran the London Marathon on 18th April to raise money for the station funds. This was his third marathon. He said that he wanted to do one more marathon and try to get back in shape whilst raising money for the RNLI. Colin is a police dog handler with the Surrey Police. His training partner was his police dog "Buster". Unfortunately Buster was not be able to join Colin on the actual Marathon but Colin ran with a life-sized toy replica of Buster on his back.

 

Colin completed the Marathon in 3 hours 38 minutes and raised about £600 for the Hayling Island RNLI lifeboat station. Colin would like to thank everyone who sponsored him

[Thanks to Ian Fiddaman for the picture]


Wargrave Fundraising Branch visit the station

Wargrave Fundraising Branch had a tour of the Hayling Island Lifeboat Station on Sunday 18th April 2004. It was a windy and wet day. During their visited they watched from the beach the lifeboats participating in a routine training exercise with the Coastguard's helicopter "India Juliet".[Thanks to Ann Davies for the photographs]


RNLI welcomes Russian Recruits

A group of 8 children from Chernobyl were given the opportunity to try on the wet weather gear when they visited the RNLI Hayling Island Lifeboat Station on Wednesday 31st March after an early supper at Hayling Island Sailing Club. They then watched the launch of the Atlantic 75 lifeboat going out on a routine evening training exercise. 

The visit to the lifeboat station has become an annual event for the children who live for four weeks in the Petersfield area with local families. During their stay they have a full programme of activities and they are encouraged to eat healthily with lots of fresh fruit, milk and vegetables to boost their immune system. The children come from an area in Russia which still remains heavily contaminated from the nuclear fall after the explosion at Chernobyl on 26th April 1986. 

[Thanks to Andy Ferguson for the picture]
The children’s visit to the UK is funded by the charity “Chernobyl Children Life Line”. This is a national charity, founded in 1991, which helps 3,000 children each year.

Helicopter Exercise

On Sunday 21st March in stormy conditions, the Hayling Island lifeboats, together with the Portsmouth lifeboats were out on a joint exercise with the Coastguard helicopter, “India Juliet”, practising the various techniques of transferring casualties from incidents at sea.

[Photo by Andy Ferguson, Trainee Boat Crew, who was on the D Class lifeboat]


RSPCA present award

On Sunday 8th February 2003, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)  presented lifeboat crew from Hayling Island RNLI Station with the RSPCA’s Certificate of Merit for their part in rescuing three horses on 16th July 2003.          

 more info

The horses recued by the Hayling Island Lifeboats.

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Home Lifeboats Crew Launches History Fund Raising Links
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