Highlights from 2018 Lifeboat Day & Fete

Early in the morning on Sunday 5^th August 2018, the Station members and friends went into action to prepare for the annual Fete and Lifeboat Day, everyone worked hard to get everything set up in the hot morning sun. But come midday everything was ready and the fete was opened and hundreds of people swarmed onto the site, enjoying the BBQ, beer tent, stalls, cakes, teas, games, raffle, tombola and RNLI Shop and lots more. Music was provided by “The Shambolics”.

There was an opportunity to meet the Lifeboat crew, the Community Safety Team, the RNLI’s Face to Face team, the Coastguards and the Newfoundland Rescue Dogs and then watch displays by Happisburgh’s lifeboats – the Atlantic 85 ‘Howard Bell’ and the D Class, ‘Russell Pickering’ and Cromer’s Tamar, ‘Lester’ and the Newfoundland Rescue Dogs.

The weather for this special day couldn’t have been better and there was a large crowd assembled on the slipway to watch the displays.  The Newfoundland Rescue Dogs are now a firm favourite with the spectators.

As the Lifeboats were returning to Station, after the exercise, the crew were made aware of a Jet Skier who had fallen from his craft just South of the Station.  The Station’s D Class, ‘Russell Pickering’ was re-launched at 4pm with Christian Larter as helm, Jake Munday, Martin Gibbs, Sean Thurston and Sean Furguson as crew. It arrived on scene within minutes to find a 43 yr old male who had made his own way to shore, suffering chest and ankle pain.  He was assessed by the crew, who contacted the Coastguard for assistance.  The casualty was moved to Cart Gap Lifeboat Station where he was monitored until the arrival of the Ambulance, which transported him to A & E.  This was the first call-out for Happisburgh Station this year.

The Fete raised £8258.62 on the day to enable the Station to carry on its work of saving lives at sea.  We would like to thank everyone who attended and gave generously and all the volunteers who helped make the day such a success. We had special presentations from the Trafalgar Branch of the Oddfellows and from Eric John Goleby in memory of his wife Sally Ann.

The team would also like to thank  the sponsors for the beer who were Chris Batt, Rob Ferguson, Bob Mann,  A J electrics and MKM building Merchants whilst also giving thanks to Jules, Kate, and Bill for all their hard work on the day alongside all of our excellent volunteers.