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, a plumber 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

Deputy Launching Authority

Lifeboat Boathouse Manager

Dedication
Our crew members at Newbiggin 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 received 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 the lifeboat pagers are activated sending a message to the operational team and signalling the crew to assemble at the lifeboat Station. Meanwhile the boathouse doors will be opened and the tractor manned, and equipment checked, before the lifeboat is pulled 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 College at Poole. It is a four day intensive course and features training in boat handling, capsize 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 exercise 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 dry-suit, complete with rubber safety 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 the warm, crewchange area with controlled humidity and drying, ready for the next time.