Lives Saved Since 1851= 587
+ 3dogs

Launches since 1851 = 493


Weather for July 2003
The month began unsettled with cloud, showers, fresh north wind and a rough sea. Thereafter conditions improved giving very warm / hot and humid days and sometimes nights. The wind generally blew off the land and when it did blow off the sea the temperature dropped. The weather contributed to a rise in the number of calls during July. The month ended unsettled but by close of the day the sunshine was returning.

Exercises.
Exercises were held on the 6th and 20th.

Services.
There were five service calls during the month with details as follows;

Tuesday 1st July, 2003
At about 17.45 hours information was received that two persons had been washed into the sea in Newbiggin bay about half a mile south of the station. The pagers were activated and maroons fired with the lifeboat launched moments later. The lifeboat arrived on scene as the girls were being helped clear of the water by a member of the public. The lifeboat then returned to station and was secured on its carriage when another call for help came in. There had been a phone call to the station advising that someone may have been washed into the sea off the southern headland at Newbiggin known as the 'Needles Eye'. The lifeboat launched for a second time and commenced a search in the surf. A rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer who was on another mission was also tasked to the incident. After about an hour the search units were released from the incident. Once again the lifeboat returned

Saturday 12th July, 2003.
'Following a number of 999 reports volunteers from Newbiggin Lifeboat Station were called into action on Saturday afternoon. The reports concerned two inflatable dinghies being blown out to sea in the Druridge Bay area with persons on them. The Newbiggin Atlantic 75 Lifeboat 'CSMA 75th Anniversary' with three volunteers on board launched within minutes of the report and headed at full speed to the search area adjacent Creswell. An initial search of that area proved negative so the search was expanded to the north. The Amble Lifeboat also joined in the search at the north end of Druridge Bay. Within minutes of searching however Newbiggin Lifeboat located the casualty over half a mile from the shore and heading further out. Sitting on the inflatable dinghies were two 18 year old youths from Bedlington who were pulled on board the lifeboat and taken back to the safety of the shore. With all persons accounted for the lifeboat returned to station. I would add that over the years of my RNLI service I have seen many such unfortunate incidents and not all with a happy ending such as this. These inflatables are not suitable for the sea and best only for swimming pools. Please heed the dangers and keep our summer days by the sea safe.'

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The First 150 Years - The Book.
Newbiggin Lifeboat History Book Launched. After some nine years of research the comprehensive story of Newbiggin Lifeboat over the last 150 years is launched.
Priced at £6 the book is available from the lifeboat station with postal orders costing an extra £1.50 for post and packing.(Post orders to RICHARD MARTIN, 3 WINDSOR GARDENS, NEWBIGGIN-BY-THE-SEA, NORTHUMBERLAND,NE64 6UN) Richard J Martin April 30th, 2001.
For more details contact Richard Martin
0191 2192553

Wednesday 16th July, 2003
At about 6.00pm on Wednesday 16th July, 2003 Newbiggin Lifeboat Station received a report from Humber Coastguard that a person was in difficulty east of Church Point Newbiggin. The Newbiggin lifeboat was launched within two minutes and proceeded at full speed to the search area. A rescue boat from Newbiggin Sailing Club, which was already in Newbiggin Bay, also proceeded to the scene. A young boy was located and recovered into the lifeboat and resuscitation commenced. The lifeboat returned to Newbiggin beach where resuscitation continued. The boy was transferred to Wansbeck General Hospital by ambulance.'

Thursday 17th July, 2003.
It was a foggy day and whilst still warm the air was damp and the visibility poor. A school party from the Newcastle area were having a summer trip out and had elected despite the weather to visit Druridge Bay. The group consisted of supervisors and teenagers who had decided to venture onto the central area of the bay. One of the characteristics of this area is the sandbanks which in the past have caught people out. A group of four had entered the sea and after a while started to make their way ashore. Unfortunately they got into difficulty and assistance was called for. Initially the group formed a human chain of twelve persons into the sea in order to assist. Meanwhile the pagers were activated and maroons fired at Newbiggin and Amble lifeboat stations at about 11.45am. A rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer also headed to the scene. Initial information regarding the location of the incident was not clear so the lifeboats began searching from both ends of the bay.
Meanwhile the human chain succeeded in getting the four ashore but hospital attention was required due to the cold and swallowing seawater. The rescue units arrived on scene with the helicopter winching two of the party on board and transferring them to hospital. A further twelve were later transfe5rred to hospital but released later that day. Due to the very poor visibility the helicopter had to fly low to find its way to the hospital.
A group of press filming at Newbiggin following the drowning captured the actual lifeboat launch which was shown on regional television that night. The lifeboat returned to station at 12. 45pm.

Beach Clean
The second Newbiggin Community beach clean was held on the morning of Sunday 13th July, 2003.The work was a great success with over 30 helpers turning up for a big tidy up prior to the summer events.

Open Air Service 2003
The annual open air service was held in the boathouse on Sunday 13th July, 2003. The hot weather brought in a full house to the boathouse for the service and afterwards refreshments were served.



Relief Lifeboat B775 'Millennium Forester'
The station Atlantic 75 Lifeboat 'CSMA 75th Anniversary' is four years old this year and in accordance with RNLI maintenance policy the lifeboat is taken out of service for overhaul at RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Centre, Cowes. To provide cover whilst the lifeboat is away for the next five months is a relief Atlantic 75 was sent to the station. The lifeboat B775 'Millennium Forester' arrived late afternoon on Thursday July 25th, 2002 after being towed by road to the station from Cowes. The lifeboats were changed over in a process involving the turntable jack and help from my vintage diesel tractor. With the exchange complete the lifeboat was taken down to the beach for sea trials. After a few adjustments the lifeboat was accepted and washed down for the night. The station lifeboat was stored overnight at the Church Point Caravan Park before being taken south to the Isle of Wight the following day.

Lifeboat Day 2003
This year lifeboat day on Sunday 20th July, 2003 was a great success with over £3000 raised on the afternoon. A one minute silence was held during the opening ceremony following the tragedy in the village days before. The event was opened by Tyne Tees Television News Reporter Mark Warr who was presented with a local salmon. Newbiggin and Morpeth Ladies Lifeboat Guilds presented cheques at the ceremony in respect of their fundraising efforts over the past year.


Forthcoming Events;
The following events are planned for the summer;
Sunday 3rd August, 2003 - Town Fair
Sunday 24th August, 2003 - Town Pageant

RJM Richard Martin - 31/07/2003.

Newbiggin by the Sea RNLI Video
We are pleased to annouce the issue of a exclusive
VHS video about Newbiggin RNLI station featuring high-lights of the 150th Anniversary Celebrations with the Duke of Northumberland in attendance.

To receive a copy contact Stan Green at-
Newbiggin@rnli.org.uk

Newbiggin by the Sea R.N.L.I. Website
Special thanks should go to Richard Martin, Stan Green and former Newbiggin Branch Chairman John Robinson, for providing much of the material used in the lifeboat website.
If anyone has any additional material or stories that they think would be of interest and would like to contribute to the site please contact:-

Paul Hooper tel.01670 521289
e-mail- drumhoops@btinternet.com

Or contact can be made via:-
www.newbigginbythesea.co.uk
Newbiggin@rnli.org.uk