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21/2/06: Sea Kyak Drama

Volunteers from Newbiggin Lifeboat Station received a call for help late Saturday afternoon following reports of persons in difficulty off the beach at Creswell.

The alarm was raised by a companion of the two who had put out earlier that afternoon in a kyak. Due to surf conditions and strong currents the pair had been unable to get back to the shore. Newbiggin Atlantic 75 lifeboat CSMA 75th Anniversary was launched with three volunteers on board and proceeded to the area. On arrival the lifeboat stood by whilst the pair were recovered safely on the beach.

January 18th 2006: Coble drifting sparks alert

Volunteers from Newbiggin Lifeboat Station were called out on Wednesday morning following a call for assistance from a Seaton Sluice fishing coble drifting north of Church Point.

The coble 'Ann' of Seaton Sluice had put out to sea earlier in the day with two persons on board for a days fishing. Unfortunately their venture was cut short following engine failure and after drifting a while they called for assistance. Lifeboat volunteers from Newbiggin quickly responded to their call and began a full search of the area. After about thirty minutes the casualty was located about three mile east of Beacon Point. The lifeboat stood by the coble and escorted her south to Newbiggin and with the engine failure resolved in the calm conditions the casualty elected to proceed back to Seaton Sluice unaided. Newbiggin lifeboat returned to station after this their second call of 2006.

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
For more details contact Richard Martin
01670 856241

Press Release Newbiggin Lifeboat Station

Lifeboat Callout One
4th March, 2008 Missing Fisherman

Major Search operation Underway Volunteers fro Newbiggin Lifeboat Station as well as three other lifeboat stations were called out last night for a search for a missing fisherman. The search began as a result of a mayday call at 1654 from the Eyemouth registered fishing boat ‘Sanlormarho2’ who had lost a crewmember overboard one mile east of Blyth. Volunteers at Newbiggin were already on station preparing for an evening exercise so they lost no time in getting the search underway in daylight. Lifeboats from Blyth, Cullercoats and Tynemouth joined in the search with numerous fishing boats saturating the area to look for the missing man. Overhead a RAF Sea King helicopter also scanned the sea and coastline. The operation continued for five hours in a biting cold wind and rough sea conditions.

Lifeboat crews returned ashore mid way through the evening to collect fuel and change over crewmembers on the boat. Just after 2200 hours it was agreed to call off the search and all rescue units returned to station.

13th October 2007

Newbiggin Atlantic 75 class lifeboat CSMA 75th Anniversary was called out to an upturned boat today. The rescue operation began at about 1208
hours today following reports of a 14 foot long fishing boat being capsized in the surf. The three persons on board the fishing boat had been thrown into the water but had managed to clamber onto the upturned hull to await rescue. Newbiggin's volunteer crew were on scene within 10 minutes and were joined at the same time by a sea king helicopter from RAF Boulmer. The helicopter winched the three persons on board the aircraft then transferred them to Wansbeck District General hospital. The lifeboat meanwhile succeeded in collecting debris from the upturned boat and pulling it clear of the rocks.

Newbiggin Lifeboat Station 16/08/2007 22:28

Lifeboat volunteers from three of the Northumberland Coast lifeboat Stations were called out tonight following a mobile phone call for help from a distressed female. The incident began late evening with lifeboats launched from Newbiggin, Blyth and Cullercoats. the search was joined by Police and the Police helicopter. After a full search between Whitley bay and newbiggin the female was located. Police will be talking to this person. The incident was closed at 2130 with all lifeboats returning to their respective stations.

17th June 2007

It has been another hot and sunny Sunday here at Newbiggin with crowds of people out to see the Bay works.

Earlier today the lifeboat was called out and I have set out the details hoping you can run a report for us;

' Volunteers from Newbiggin Lifeboat Station were awoken from their beds on Sunday morning following reports of a small boat broken down east of the station and drifting. The lifeboat was ready to launch when
details came through that the vessel was now underway. With the crew dispersing a second call came in thirty minutes later to say the boat
with two persons on board had lost power again and was drifting. This time the lifeboat was launched and within minutes found the casualty
not far from Newbiggin Bay. With a tow attached both boats were safely on the shore by 0820.

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Volunteers from Newbiggin Lifeboat Station were called out at about 1900 hours tonight following reports of a canoe partially submerged
south of the station. The station Atlantic 75 Class Lifeboat 'CSMA 75th Anniversary' was launched in a few minutes in moderate to rough sea conditions to locate the canoe. Minutes later the lifeboat team were on scene and pulled the canoe out of the water and into the lifeboat . The canoe was badly damaged and unlikely to have had anyone on board. However the lifeboat carried out a full search of the adjacent sea area before returning to station about 25 minutes later. The canoe was landed into the care of the small boat park.

Synopsis Fourth call of 2007
Crew - Jimmie Dawson (Helm), Paul Davison, Paul Armstrong and Colin Holloway Shore Richard Martin, Carol Dawson, Alan eitly, Ian Davison, Alan Armstrong, Brian Athey, Chris Main Snr.
Lifeboat - Atlantic 75 B745 'CSMA 75th Anniversary' Time of High Water 1531 BST
Weather - Fine and sunny Wind * East 2-3
Sea State * Moderate to rough Time of Launch - 1904 BST On Scene - 1906 BST Return to Station - 1926 BST Other units - Coastguard

If you need any further info then ring me on 0191 2192553

Thanks

Richard Martin, Lifeboat Press Officer
Newbiggin Lifeboat Station

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Entertainers Help to Raise the Lifeboat Roof

Following the theft of lead from the something Lifeboat Station roof back in March a local singer has stepped forward to help raise some
money towards the £1500 repair bill. Local singer Andy Max read about the vandalism in the local paper and decided to do something to help the lifesaving charity at Newbiggin. With the help of a couple of other supporting acts Buzzin Bessie and Mick Meatloaf the group are holding a Raise the Roof Charity Night at the Bank House Club Newbiggin by the Sea on Wednesday 2nd May, 2007 between 7.00pm and 11.00pm. Tickets cost£2.00 and are available from the Bank House or you can pay at the door
on the night. Come along and give us your support and help us raise the roof.

Latest service calls:

Saturday 22nd July, 2006.

Cabin Boat Adrift

Volunteers form Newbiggin Lifeboat Station were called out this afternoon following reports that a cabin boat was broken down and drifting in calm conditions.

The vessel called 'How Big' with three persons on board was off Church Point when the call came in. Newbiggin's Atlantic 75 lifeboat

'CSMA 75th Anniversary' with four crew on board was quickly launched and proceeded at full speed to the vessel. Early reports had suggested that the vessel was sinking and so the station salvage pump was taken out. However on arriving, the vessel was thankfully only drifting and needed a tow ashore. The lifeboat duly obliged and towed the casualty into Newbiggin Bay.

July 3, 2006:

DRIFTING COBLE RESCUED

Volunteers from Newbiggin Lifeboat Station were called out earlier today
Sunday 2nd July, 2006 when a local coble lost power.

The alert came in at about 0825 hours when the Newbiggin coble Endeavour
with six persons on board suffered a gearbox failure close inshore at Church
Point. Within minutes a volunteer crew had manned the village lifeboat and
quickly launched to secure a tow onto the stricken vessel. The coble was
then towed ashore back to Newbiggin and the incident closed.

June 28, 2006: Suspected Drifting Inflatable sparks rescue action

A report of an inflatable been carried out to sea late on Tuesday evening
by volunteers from Newbiggin Lifeboat Station.


The initial reports came in at about 2115 hours from a member of the public
at the Church Point Caravan Park. A small yellow object was occasionally
breaking the surf east of Church Point. As a precaution the coastguard requested
that the Newbiggin Lifeboat launch and investigate.

At about 2125 hours the Atlantic 75 lifeboat CSMA 75th Anniversary was launched
from the beach at Newbiggin with four volunteer crew on board and proceeded
at full speed through the choppy sea to the reported object. Within two monutes
the lifeboat located the object about quarter of a mile north east of Church
Point. It turned out to be a bunch of baloons but it gave comfort to know
nobody on this instance was in danger.

25th June: SINKING CABIN CRUISER RESCUE DRAMA

A sinking vessel with four persons on board sparked a major rescue drama at Newbiggin by the Sea earlier today.

The incident began when the six metre cabin cruiser ‘Double Trouble’ of Amble began taking in water and the four occupants on board realised they needed urgent help,

At about 0835 hours on a damp Sunday morning volunteers from Newbiggin Lifeboat Station were awoken from their beds for the urgent call for help. Only minutes later the Atlantic 75 class lifeboat ‘CSMA 75 th Anniversary’ which is stationed at Newbiggin was proceeding at full speed to the casualty who was about half a mile east of Beacon Point Newbiggin. The lifeboat crew of four had taken with them the rescue salvage pump which was essential for this type of incident. The volunteer lifeboat was on scene in minutes and realised their was no time to spare due to the predicament of the casualty vessel. The casualty’s occupants were brought on board the safety of the lifeboat and the pumping operation begun immediately as the water level was dangerously high. After a few anxious moments the endeavours of the lifeboat volunteers paid off and the water level in the casualty began to drop. With the situation now under control the lifeboat towed the casualty back to Newbiggin beach where it was checked over.

20th June 2006: Upturned Boat Sparks Search

A search of the sea near Church Point Newbiggin was called off last night and an upturned boat towed ashore.

The drama began when volunteers from Newbiggin Lifeboat Station received information from Church Point Caravan Park that an upturned boat was being blown out to sea. Early reports also indicated that two children had been seen at the boat but it could not be ascertained whether they had ventured out.

Newbiggin’s Atlantic 75 class lifeboat ‘CSMA 75 th Anniversary’ was launched at 8.00pm with four crew on board to begin a thorough search of the sea in the vicinity of the three metre drifting vessel.

Newbiggin’s volunteer rescuers were joined by a rescue helicopter and coastguards but after two hours the search was called off as darkness began to fall.

Newbiggin lifeboat recovered the upturned boat and returned it to the shore.

Newbiggin Lifeboat Press Officer Richard Martin added ‘the search operation was begun in minutes and despite careful investigation by all search units nothing was found’.

Monday 5th June, 2006
At about 07.12 on Monday morning a report was received requesting lifeboat
assistance for a loval fishing coble.The Newbiggin fishing coble Crystal
Sea with two persons on board had suffered gearbox problems whilst fishing
in the Lyne Bay area off Lynemouth. Once again the volunteer team turned
out and within minutes were alongside the casualty who could not make the
shore as a result of the problem. A tow was attached and the lifeboat towed
the coble back to Newbiggin.

Sunday 4th June, 2006
The next call came on Sunday evening and followed a report to Newbiggin Lifeboat´s
Boathouse Manager Tim Martin from local fisherman Dennis Hyde. Cries for
help had been heard through the darkness coming from the breakwater in Newbiggin
Bay and with the tide restricting access to the structure the Lifeboat team
were called out at 22.47 to investigate and assist. On launching the first
casualty was found in a distressed state on the breakwater and brought ashore
by the lifeboat. Other volunteers from Newbiggin Lifeboat were joined by
Paramedics and auilliary coastguards to bring another casualty along the
hazardous rocky structure and up to the boathouse. Both casualties were attended
to in the boathouse before being handed over to the Ambulance Service.

Sunday 4th June, 2006.
Another call for lifeboat assistance came following reports of a vessel putting
out smoke at about noon on Sunday. Newbiggin lifeboat was already out at
sea when they were diverted to give assistance whilst on a training exercise.
The vessel did indeed need help and was in athe north end of Druridge Bay.
Newbiggin lifeboat proceeded but with Amble lifeboat also in the vicinity
Amble took the vessel in tow.

25th May, 2006
Lifeboat volunteers from Newbiggin were called to help to action following reports of an unfortunate dog being unable to make the shore at Newbiggin. At about 1255 local time the pagers were activated for the canine casualty. Fortunately as the lifeboat was being made ready the dog made its way ashore and the volunteers were stood down.

31st May, 2006
Just before 1500hours volunteers from Newbiggin Lifeboat Station were called
for an immediate launch following reports of a male adult in the sea and in difficulties in the Sandy Bay area of Cambois Bay. Lifeguards from Sandy Bay had managed to recover the man from the sea when the lifeboat arrived
only minutes later but his medical condition gave cause for concern. The lifeguards and the lifeboat volounteers gave first aid on the shore and the casualty condition improved as a result of this help. A Rescue Helicopter
from RAF Boulmer arrived on the scene and airlifted the casualty to Wansbeck District General Hospital. With the incident closed the lifeboat returned to station.

10/05/2006: FISHING COBLE ESCORTED ASHORE BY LIFEBOAT

It was not to be a Bank Holiday off for lifeboat volunteers at Newbiggin Lifeboat Station on when a call for help came in.

The Newbiggin fishing coble 'Endeavour' had been attending to gear just over two mile east of Church Point Newbiggin when a mechanical problem
developed on her engine and she was unable to return ashore. Now drifting the coble sent out a request for lifeboat assistance.

Newbiggin's Atlantic 75 Lifeboat 'CSMA 75th Anniversary' responded to the call and launched just before 2.00pm and within minutes was alongside the
vessel. After assistance from lifeboat volunteers the coble was able to get underway but poor sea conditions for landing at Newbiggin prevented an
immediate return to the shore. Instead the lifeboat stood by the coble for over 90 minutes then escorted her safely ashore at Newbiggin.

Press Release Newbiggin Lifeboat Station: Friday 31^st March, 2006.

 

Lifeboat Crew assist Fisherman 

 

Volunteers form Newbiggin Lifeboat Station were called out early morning today following reports of a fisherman in difficulty. The Blyth registered 26 foot fishing vessel with three crew on board had been working gear east of Blyth. During their work one of the crew had ended up in the sea. 

Newbiggin’s Atlantic 75 class lifeboat ‘CSMA 75^th Anniversary’ was launched at 0725 hours band proceeded to the casualty locating them shortly afterwards. The fisherman was now back on board was transferred onto the lifeboat. Newbiggin’s lifeboat then brought him into Blyth for ambulance transfer to Wansbeck District General Hospital.

Looking Back.

On September 4th, 1903 the district inspector recommended that a skylight be placed in the boathouse roof and that a cupboard and 'other arrangements' for keeping stores be supplied at a cost of £11 16sh 6d. On September 5th, 1903 thousands of people were on the river Tyne for Lifeboat Saturday. Both Lifeboats from Tynemouth were in attendance with three from Sunderland and one each from Seaham, Whitburn, South Shields, North Shields, Cullercoats, Blyth, Cambois and Newbiggin. Lifeboat techniques were demonstrated after which the Duke of Northumberland inspected all of the Lifeboats from a steam launch. Other events on the day included boat races.

Lifeboat out when empty coble sighted'
The Morpeth Herald carried the following report on September 11th, 1953;
'When an unoccupied coble was seen in the sea to the north of Newbiggin yesterday the Newbiggin Lifeboat was launched. They found however that the coble had been anchored and later taken in tow by three local fishermen in another coble. The two cobles had been working near each other attending to crab pots when a heavy swell developed. In consequence the crew left their boat to accompany the crew of the other boat whilst they hauled their pots. They temporarily anchored their coble whilst they were away. However the empty coble was observed from the shore who thought the occupants may have been washed overboard. The Lifeboat was launched but their trip was not in vein as they escorted both cobles back home in case the heavy swell caused them any danger'.
During an Inspector visit in April a request was made that when hauling the Lifeboat up the slipway with the winch two drag ropes are to be connected to the carriage and taken up to the bollards either side of the boathouse for safety.


Newbiggin Pageant
Photographs of the event can still be seen on www.newbigginbythesea.co.uk - the Newbiggin website.

Richard Martin

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