Smile...

Every once in a while we have a photograph taken of the crew. Boathouses around the country are full of this sort of thing...mostly sepia toned photographs of men in flat caps and wooly jumpers from the days when men were men and lifeboats had oars.



Today we had a new one taken as there have been many changes to the crew since our last one. Paul(Shilo), one of our resident photographers, generally takes ours and, while he is a great photographer (and excellent gardener), he finds herding lifeboat crew a challenge!



However, despite the freezing cold wind, in a pretty short space of time, he had us licked into some sort of shape and the deed was done. Hopefully it will come out well and, in years to come, we will look back at it and reflect on the crew we were in and the experiences shared.



Incidentally, somewhere in the back row is hidden Gav's lovely young son Harry. We didn't know where else to put him while Kim was pulling the trigger on the camera, so, we hid him behind one or two of the larger crew (I won't mention who!)

All good...

And a happy New Year...

This morning, a dozen or so brave swimmers entered the water for a bracing Christmas Day dip. Generously they each gave a kindly sum to the RNLI. So thank-you all...!

Launch both boats...

After a shout yesterday, it's now looking like a busy bankholiday weekend...not for me though. Both boats have just launched to assist a small yacht caught by a pot rope round it's prop. Meanwhile I am spending the day alone with my kids as Mrs G is taking part in a 12 hour mountainbike race...so no lifeboating for me!

Sometimes life ain't fair

So, over the last 10 days, our crew have spent many tens of hours busy fundraising and doing demonstrations to support the work that they do as volunteers for the RNLI. Imagine then, how gutting it was for Gav to be on his way home from the shout and the lifeboat service on Sunday only to have his bike stolen as he popped into a local shop to grab a pint of milk. Sometimes peoples selfishness and greed defies belief. A hard working volunteer out of pocket to the tune of £1600 just because someone else spotted an opportunity to profit.

So, if you have any information about this please get in touch with me or your local police. It is a relatively rare bike so it would actually be fairly hard to sell on. Please don't let this person get away with this. Thanks...

The youth of today

One of the great things about this years lifeboat week was the number of kids who were around. Everywhere I looked there seemed to be little people  enjoying themselves, taking an interest and having fun. The number present was of course helped by the number of recent babies born to our Swanage lifeboat family. Happy times...

Blooming marvelous

I forgot to mention the results of the annual RNLI window dressing competition. After a number of attempts, our wonderful local florists, Bloom, has won the RNLI window competition. Tor, who owns the business, is a great supporter of the lifeboat and has obviously put a huge amount of effort into her display this year. It even had a boat and a sea safety message...well done Bloom and Tor (and anyone else who was involved)!

For those in peril...

So, in it's traditional way, lifeboat week has come to an end with our lifeboat service on the pier. Typically, the ALB got a shout 20 minutes before the start and missed the whole thing! Never mind though, this was more than made up for by the enormous number of people who had come to take part (helped perhaps by announcements on radio solent and radio 2 this morning).

Our thanks in particular to Ringwood Salvation Army band who played so well for us (they even taught us a new Hymn!)

Only 357 days to go till next lifeboat week!

Coastguard 106

Wahay! One of the great things about lifeboat weekend is getting the chance to work with our local coastguard helicopter. Noisy but loads of fun...

Tribute...

So Tim, who used to be on our crew and now works for the RNLI, has a Honda goldwing, and take a look at the amazing artwork! I love the detail and the fact that it is our boat...nice one Tim.

Red is the new blue...

Handsome Dan in his new red shirt...like it?

On yer marks, get set, go!

And they're off, the annual raft race is underway. No one has sunk...yet!

Did you know?

Williamson tea donate 7p from every box of tea to the RNLI. That means, if everyone in the UK chose to drink only lifeboat tea, a quarter of a million pounds would be raised daily! So do your bit please...

A whale of a time....

Once again we have the wonderful wareham whalers here to entertain us. If shanties are your thing then get down here and have a listen, they're awesome!

The wiseleys

what an awesome night!

1,2,3, I got soul...

The bands are on stage...let the fun begin!

Health and safety?

Your thoughts please!

Stormy is here...

Lifeboat week wouldn't be lifeboat week without Stormy Stan appearing. Luckily he is here helping us collect.

Get set...

After all the planning, the final preparations are fully underway for this weekend. Marquees are going up, the beer is onsite and there sun is shining...please don't forget to turn up now!

A special visitor

It's not every evening that we get the pleasure of the company of a hugely talented and renowned artist coming to sea with us, but, tonight, we had the real pleasure of Rebecca Lardner onboard as we acted as guard boat for the Swanage Sailing Club RNLI pennant race. Rebecca's paintings have, of course, been hugely popular for a long time and the Mulberry tree gallery in town sells much of her work. However, relatively recently she has become a favourite of the lifeboat crew due to her offering to paint a picture for us to raffle during lifeboat week.

Of course the painting is fantastic and we were keen to bring Rebecca down to the lifeboat house and, if possible, get her out on the boat...as is the way with these things, it has taken some time to arrange but from the look on Rebecca's face it was well worth the wait!


Indeed, she was a natural, she seemed very comfortable on the boat and even managed to perfect the steely 'woman against the elements' looks required of female lifeboat crew!

Rebecca: thanks for coming out with us and in particular, thanks for your magnificent painting...

Are you coming?

On Friday evening Prince Albert Gardens in Swanage is going to be the place to be. Cliff Lift & the ZigZags begin the entertainment with a lively set from 6pm. We've not had Cliff Lift & the ZigZags to play for us before, but they are a local band form the Bournemouth area and have an excellent reputation as a live band.

As ever there will be a fabulous bar with local beers and ciders and the BBQ will be fired up and providing delicious food once more.


The Wiseleys will be playing once more from 8.30pm, back for their third stint at lifeboat week. This incredible London based band will set out to once more blow your socks off with their energetic sound.

Do yourself a favour...don't miss this evening!