A hot, sunny day in Exmouth has kept the RNLI lifeboat volunteers in the town busy on Saturday 26 May. In a space of four hours the crew of the D class inshore lifeboat attended to ten incidents. The emergencies alone illustrate the commitment of the station’s volunteers, but the action doesn’t stop there as the launches coincided with a visit to the lifeboat station by a local boat club and by the BBC who were filming for a programme to be aired next January.

As RNLI Coxswain, Tim Mock was being interviewed by the BBC the first call came in for the volunteers of the D class inshore lifeboat George Bearman. They were tasked to a 16 foot speed boat with three people onboard that had broken down. The lifeboat crew towed them in noting that though the people weren’t wearing lifejackets, there were two lifejackets and a buoyancy aid onboard. As Helmsman Dave Preece says, lifejackets are designed for a reason:

‘As our charities sea safety campaign says, lifejackets are useless unless worn and I would urge people going to sea to always use their safety equipment rather than leave it lying around on the boat.’

On Monday 21 May, Exmouth RNLI Volunteer Crewman David Preece visited Little Otters in East Budleigh to talk to the children about beach safety and the work of the lifeboats. David explained how the children should get help in an emergency on the beach and how to spot lifeguards and lifeboat crew.

The children particularly enjoyed timing how long it took David to get into his lifeboat kit and then were thrilled to be able to try on a junior version.

“We were delighted that the RNLI were able to take time out of their busy schedule to come and visit us.” said Michelle Chudley, Pre-School Leader.  “Beach safety is a really important lesson” she added.

Exmouth RNLI Deputy Coxswain Steve Hockings-Thompson was scheduled to take over the Olympic Torch in Torbay at 5.06pm on Sunday 20 May. With only three minutes to go, his crewmates’ pagers sounded indicating the imminent launch of the Exmouth inshore lifeboat, George Bearman.

Portland coastguards had tasked the D-class lifeboat and its three volunteer crew to rescue three adults and a dog from the Exe estuary. They had been walking the West Highland Terrier when they had been caught out by the rising tide and become stuck in the mud. One of the women was heavily pregnant. The walkers were quickly taken to safety to waiting friends and paramedics.

Steve was not on duty at the time and there were no pockets in his Olympic Torchbearer uniform to carry his pager through the streets of Babbacombe. Three of his volunteer crewmates who were also off lifeboat duty, were working in the area at the time in their professional capacity in the police and paramedic services.

Volunteer Deputy Coxswain Steve Hockings-Thompson is to be one of 8,000 Torchbearers on Sunday 20 May in Torbay. His nomination was based on his involvement with the RNLI over 18 years.

Steve, 46 is to run approximately 400 metres along the proposed route on the second day of the torch’s journey to the London 2012 Olympic Games. He is due to run along Babbacombe Road (between Perinville Road and St. Anne’s Road) at 5.06pm. Watching him along the route will be his wife, Louise and their two teenage daughters.

Approximately 60 people attended the 2012 Exmouth RNLI Guild AGM held on 23 April at the Exe Sailing Club. The Exmouth Lifeboat Management Group open meeting followed on with the guest speaker Lee Firman, Coxswain of the Shannon class trials ending the evening with a question and answer session.

The attendees included lifeboat crew members and officers, the Exmouth Deputy Town Mayor, Exmouth Town Councillors and members of the public. The meeting commenced with a minute’s silence in memory for recently departed members of Exmouth RNLI, past and present. Jack Stapley, Guild President; David Jackson, Budleigh Salterton Co-ordinator; Doug Were, second mechanic on City of Birmingham and John Kirley, former inshore lifeboat crew member were remembered.

The RNLI have spent two days in Exmouth (Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 April) carrying out trials of a new class of lifeboat.  The Shannon class all-weather is at present undergoing extensive sea and beach trials around the country where she’s been tested out in a range of conditions.

The new lifeboat has been designed in-house by RNLI naval architects who have harnessed cutting-edge technology to ensure it meets the demands of a modern day rescue service. The Shannon features twin water jets instead of conventional propellers, allowing her to operate in shallow waters and to be highly manoeuvrable. At present a team of RNLI personnel are busy testing her abilities and the new system that’s been designed to launch and recover the lifeboat.

The RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry is to be presented to Exmouth crew volunteer Roger Jackson (43) following the rescue of four people from a capsized powerboat last October. At a meeting of the charity’s Trustees this week it was agreed that the award acknowledged Roger’s exemplary command and leadership, boat-handling skill and tenacity in exceptional conditions. The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum will also be presented to Exmouth crew volunteers Mark Champion (32) and Andrew Williams (32) for their role during the same incident.

The story unfolded late in the afternoon on Sunday 23 October 2011 when reports came in of people in the water after a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) capsized in the River Exe estuary. Knowing four people were in the water and in immediate danger, it was decided to launch the Exmouth RNLI D class inshore lifeboat George Bearman, despite a near gale force onshore wind from the south east.

RNLI volunteers Roger Jackson (Helm), Mark Champion and Andrew Williams launched the lifeboat through surf of a metre and a half. As the three lifeboat crew reached the main part of the channel, they were immediately battling harsh conditions.  At one stage they had to work hard to keep the lifeboat upright, while Roger Jackson negotiated the safest route possible, using the lifeboat’s full engine power to climb the face of very large waves.

Exmouth RNLI volunteer of nearly 18 years, Nancy Thompson has raised £1,005 through sales of her crocheted hats. Nancy started her individual fundraising project for the charity 16 months ago and has sold 140 in this period. Nancy knows how important raising money for...

Senior RNLI officials have acknowledged the hard work of local shop volunteers and issued two separate awards in their RNLI 2012 Honours list.

The Chief Executive of the RNLI, Paul Boissier wrote to Margaret Eaglesham, Souvenir Secretary and informed her that both she and her retail team had won awards. Margaret receives a national Silver Badge in recognition of her devoted service with the Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton Guild. This will be presented at a ceremony later in the summer. In the letter, Mr Boissier writes;

‘I am very conscious of all you have done for the Institution and would like to add my own thanks to those of the Council for your loyalty and support.’