Lives Saved Since 1851= 578
+ 3 dogs

Launches since 1851 = 496

Weather for October 2002.
The month began hot and sunny, unseasonable but welcome weather spilling from September but by the end of the week we were reminded that it was October. A fresh, cool north east wind sprang up accompanied by a rough sea which for almost two weeks kept the looking fishing fleet firmly ashore. After one day at sea the fleet were once again stopped from their work. The last part of the month saw the wind swing around form the land leading to regular periods of rain and showers.

Exercises.
Exercises were held on the 6th, 20th and a night exercise on the 28th.

Services.
There was one service call during the month with details as follows;
Tuesday October 8th, 2002.
'It was probably the first rough autumnal night of 2002 with Newbiggin's sea defences being battered by a relentless onslaught of high seas. It was also the day of the highest tide of the year which made any access to certain areas of the promenade extremely hazardous. Nevertheless information was received at about 19.10hrs that a person had been seen in the sea at an area adjacent Bridge Street. Volunteers at Newbiggin Lifeboat station wasted no time in getting the lifeboat out and begin a search of the area. It was a particularly poor night, there was a strong southeast wind whipping up the sea, heavy surf in the bay and darkness compounded these conditions. With the lifeboat search underway remaining lifeboat volunteers donned protective clothing and commenced a search of the shore area. A rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer also arrived together with assistance from the coastguard. After over two hours of searching nothing was found and the search was called off for the night. Sea conditions in the bay were too poor for recovery of the lifeboat into its launching carriage in the sea so the Lifeboat was beached and loaded on her carriage on the shore. Members of the Newbiggin Ladies Lifeboat Guild were on hand when the incident closed and provided refreshments for the lifeboat volunteers'

Book Sales.
Book sales have continued at a steady pace during the month with about 75% of the original order sold. See below to order your copy.

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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

First Aid
As part of the regular training undertaken by lifeboat personnel members of the station a period of First Aid training began during the month. The training took place in the boathouse under the control of RNLI First Aid Instructor Trevor Stevens two evenings a week during the month with other classes on afternoons to suit some of the team. The course will be continuing into November with an ongoing assessment of the candidates.

Looking Back.
'Lifeboat in trouble at launching - Tributes paid to Launchers and Tractor Driver'
The Morpeth Herald carried the following article on October 31st, 1952;
When a coble ran into some difficulties on its return to Newbiggin on Monday, Newbiggin Lifeboat attempted to put out to sea to shepherd it back to safety but the Lifeboat never got away after fouling the carriage rollers. As a result, Blyth Lifeboat had to put out and bring the coble back to the bay. Three cobles put out from Newbiggin on Sunday night when it was calm and the weather reasonable. A sudden storm came up early Monday morning and all the cobles decided to return to Newbiggin. Meanwhile it was decided to launch the Newbiggin Lifeboat in case it was needed but during the launching a big sea hit her head on and lifted the bows into the air. She crashed back and left the launching rollers after landing across the carriage. In the heavy seas the men toiled for two hours in an attempt to put the Lifeboat back onto the rollers, but they did not succeed and the Lifeboat was finally hauled off and returned to the Station. Tributes were paid to the efforts of the men who tried to launch the Lifeboat at Newbiggin and especially George Armstrong of Moorcroft, the driver of the tractor which normally hauls up the boat. He was, at times, working up to his neck in the sea in an attempt to free the Lifeboat and, with his tractor, tried to haul the Lifeboat into a launching position. His efforts and those of others were of no avail. His helpers in the meantime were in great difficulties also. The propellers of the Lifeboat were churning all the while and causing "potholes" in the seabed. As a result the workers were often finding themselves suddenly sinking into one of these holes'.

Richard J. Martin October 31st, 2002.

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