As
with all lifeboat stations. Newbiggin's crew members, officials
and helpers come from all walks of life: there are engineers,
fishermen, a shopworker, a painter, a housewife, a lorry driver, a joiner,
a quantity surveyor, a quarry worker, and others who are
unemployed or retired.
Family ties have always played an important role in the
history of Newbiggin lifeboat, with mothers and fathers,
sons and daughters all playing their part. Today the Davisons,
the Mains, the Dawsons, and the Martins are all involved,
along with many other families from the Newbiggin community.
CREW
and SHOREHELPER LISTING
LIFEBOAT OPERATIONS PERSONNEL
NAME |
DUTY |
Les Fayers |
Lifeboat Operations Manager |
| Rod Slaughter |
Deputy Launching Authority
|
Dr. P. Sanderson |
Hon. Medical Advisor |
Stan Green |
Lifeboat Visits Officer |
| Tim Martin |
Lifeboat Boathouse Manager
|
Jimmie Dawson |
Helmsman |
Geoff Leslie |
Helmsman |
Ian Davison |
Helmsman |
Paul Davison |
Helmsman |
Paul Armstrong |
Helmsman |
Jeff Brown |
Helmsman |
Brian Athey |
Prospective Helmsman |
Gary Oliver |
Prospective Helmsman |
Paul Eatock |
Crew |
Mark Parker |
Crew |
Danny Iredale |
Crew |
Wayne Mitchell |
Crew |
Colin Holloway |
Crew |
| Chris Main |
Crew |
Richard J. Martin |
Mechanic, Lifeboat Press Officer, Tractor Driver |
Carol Dawson |
Tractor Driver |
Chris Main |
Shorehelper |
| Alan Coleman |
Tractor Driver |
William Lapping |
Shorehelper |
| Jonathan Birchall |
Shorehelper |
Alan Kielty |
Shorehelper |
Amy Fayers |
Shorehelper |
Dedication
Our
crew members at Newbigin are all dedicated individuals who
have been prepared to learn the necessary skills, are physically
fit, and able to work as a team.
All are prepared to exchange the comforts of their homes
at a moments notice for the dangers and discomfort of saving
lives at sea.
Having an intimate knowledge of our own coastal waters is
often vital to a successful rescue. Our crew spend many
hours of their own time training to become skilled and highly
efficient
volunteers.
Rescue
Procedure
Whenever there is a call for the lifeboat
service, be it an emergency distress call or an anticipated
alert, (such as a fishing coble not having returned on time)
the procedure for launching the lifeboat is the same. Pagers
are activated and the details relayed. (often from the Coastguard
who will have recieved an emergency 999 call) The circumstances
are evaluated and then the L.O.M., who is the main Launching
Authority, or the Deputy Launching Authority, will decide
whether or not to authorise the launch.
If a launch is required two Maroons may be fired, one after
the other, (only if the pager system fails) signaling the crew to assemble at the Station.
The first crew members to arrive on station will crew the
lifeboat. Meanwhile the boathouse doors will be opened and
the tractor manned, and equipment
checked, before the lifeboat is towed to the sea to commence
the rescue operation.
Many rescues are achieved by a joint operation with other
lifeboat crews, together with the coastguard, and sometimes
with a helicopter in support.
All lifeboat launches are logged and a record kept for inspection.
Training
Special
training courses for B class (Atlantic) lifeboat crews are
held at the RNLI Training Facility. It
is a four day intensive course and features training in
boat handling, capzise drill, recovery techniques, routine
on-station maintenance and helicopter winching.
A three day mechanics course complements this, and covers
outboard engine principles, fault finding, maintenance and
installation, and rubber boat repairs.
Mobile Training Units
MTU's have been set up in order to train
crews in the use of radio, navigation,radar and first-aid.
Under the control of a full-time staff instructor, courses
are covered at individual stations to suit crew availability.
In keeping with RNLI directives our Lifeboat in Newbiggin
is excercised at least once in every two weeks. In addition
the RNLI Divsional Inspectorate conducts a detailed excercise
every four months.
Large scale training excercises, invloving all emergency
services, are carried out periodically.
 |
Dressing
for Sea
When the inshore Atlantic 75 Lifeboat goes to sea it is
essential that the crew of 3 are properly dressed and kitted
out for what may be a long, cold and very wet time.
The protective clothing required is, firstly, a thermal
suit. which is put on over their every-
day clothes, this suit keeps the body heat in, and without
it they would soon feel very cold and tired. The crewman
will then climb into a one piece "Typhoon" dry-suit,
complete with rubber boots, watertight neck and cuff seals,
and this is to keep the water out, even if the crewman enters
the water, it should keep him dry.
A crash helmet is always worn, complete with visor to protect
the head and face from the wind and sea, it also prevents
injuries from falls when the boat is travelling at high
speeds. The helmet also prevents the loss of body heat via
the head.
Lastly, the lifejacket, complete with light, whistle and
recovery strop, is put on and the crewman is ready for sea.
On returning all the equipment is cleaned, checked, and
put away in a warm, dry storage,
ready for the next time.