Lives Saved Since 1851=
582 + 3 dogs

Launches since 1851 = 484


Weather for December 2002
Another wet and windy day grip us to begin December 2002 and whilst it was cool it was not frosty. There was a shortage of sunshine during the month and the main trend was that of overcast conditions. Christmas Day 2002 was bright sunny and mild, an ideal day for all the new bikes. But with never two days the same Boxing Day in contrast was overcast and wet with a fresh south east wind bringing on a rough sea. The start of wintry showers began on the 31st, a prelude to some much cooler weather in early 2003.

Exercises.
Exercises were held on the 1st, 19th (Inspector Exercise) and 26th.

Services.
There were no service calls during the month

Boxing Day Dip
A few hardy souls gathered on the beach during a cold and wet Boxing Day. There were many more spectators taking shelter from the weather behind the sea wall and even Santa Claus looked cold! Even when the dippers stood on the beach not many more ventured down there to receive the cold blast. The lifeboat was launched and stood by whilst the dippers ran in for the plunge. There were no problems and local charities stand to benefit from the event including ourselves at Newbiggin Lifeboat Station. Conditions on the shore required the lifeboat to be net recovered the turned around in the boat park on the lifeboat turntable.

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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

We wish everyone a very merry Christmas
and a porsperous and safe New Year

Looking Back -
.The lifeboat was launched to a similar incident on December 9th, 1856 when one of the local cobles 'Balaclava' was caught out by 'boisterous' weather and the coble was capsized. The Morpeth Herald reported 'Due to the unsettled state of the weather the men delayed in going to sea until 9.00am the hurricane. The every possible blessing both in time and eternity'. Sea was lashed into a fury; broke into large billows as far as the eye could reach and the rocky coast was lashed by waves acted on the sensitive nature on the wives and families on the shore which created a panic. Fortunately several of the men were engaged in a contract to remove a scotch schooner which was stranded on the rocks near the church. At the first sign of danger the lifeboat was launched with utmost promptitude that merits the highest praise and under the superintendence of Messrs. Dawson and Jefferson and the energy of the gallant crew. The lifeboat escorted each boat safely back to the shore all except two boats. The storm was still raging with a fearful violence and every eye was watching with tense anxiety each boat. Suddenly the attention of the inhabitants on the shore on the sand banks adjacent the church was concentrated on the 'Balaclava' as she was seen on the crest of a billow then submerged beneath it's mighty folds. Each heartbeat quickly as for an instant she was lost from view and the universal cry of anguish that filled the air at this juncture is not beyond the imagination to perceive. By the position of the lifeboat at the time it was impossible to make the crew comprehend by signals from the shore the direction to which the scene of the disaster lay. Fortunately another coble came with the lifeboat and the men were saved from a watery grave'.

On December 24th, 1856 the fishermen of Newbiggin sent the following communication to the Duke of Northumberland -weather at that time giving no indication of the change that was later to take place. At midday the wind turned very suddenly to the east and blew a perfect 'We the undersigned fishermen of Newbiggin respectively beg to express our sentiments of zeal, affection and gratitude to your Grace for the inestimable boon of a lifeboat a desideratum which your Grace's liberality and philanthropic exertions have been caused to be stationed at this fishery and the utility of which has during a sudden gale of the 9th been most singly, admirably and wonderfully developed in the merciful rescue of 18 cobles when off fishing, from apparent inevitable destruction. We regret we have no other way of testifying our sense of your Grace's benevolence and humility but by assuring your Grace through the able management of this establishment by the Reverend Mr. King assisted by the admirable coxswain Jefferson we should at all times be able to have the lifeboat in such a state of efficiency and redness as to carry out your Grace's most laudable meritorious and humane intentions. We again beg to return our sincere thanks and most ardently wish your Grace and the Duchess.'

RJM Richard Martin - December 31st, 2002

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