RNLI Lifeboat Station

The Atlantic 75 - Friendly Forester II joins the D Class Inshore Lifeboat – Spirit of Berkhamsted. Click picture for video

Happisburgh Lifeboat Station Year 2010

December 2010

Happisburgh has been showing off the new Lifeboat Station; after months of work it is now complete and fully operational with both boats now ready for action. This afternoon the Station opened its doors to all its supporters that have helped and supported it over the years. More than 150 people turned up and were given a guided tour of the Station and the boats with the crew and shore crew on hand to give information on the operation of the Station and boats. Afterwards they helped themselves to tea/coffee and cake.

The station is so proud that the RNLI has made the Atlantic a permanent part of the Station after completing its two year trial, Over the past two years the crew and Station have proved that they are up to running and operating the Atlantic class lifeboat and that there is a need for this class of boat at Happisburgh.

During the afternoon the Iceni Chapter of the Harley Owners Group Norfolk UK arrived and presented us with a cheque for
£ 90 for the Station.

Visitors' looking around the lifeboats

The Lifeboat Station's Crew

The Station has had seven callouts this year so far. 20th October 2010

The Stations Atlantic Lifeboat was called to the aid of two kite surfers reported in trouble off Reef three at Sea Palling at 1105 today. Friendly Forester II launched with crew of Cubitt Seiely, Tim Grimmer and Tony Phenix, who were stood down by the Coastguards before arriving on scene as the two kite surfers had made their own way ashore, The Lifeboat return to station and was made ready for the next service.

23rd August 2010

Diving Boat with Engine Failure 12 miles East of Station

The pagers went off at 8.15am, the crew launched the Atlantic at 8.30am to go to the aid of an 11m converted fishing boat with engine failure in rough seas 12 miles off to the east of the station. The Caister Lifeboat had also been called. When the Atlantic was approx ½ mile from the last known position the crew picked up a faint Mayday call from the boat on channel 16; the new position and information was passed to both Caister Lifeboat and the Coastguard. Within minutes the Caister Lifeboat had come across three persons in the water with boat debris. Their boat had been swamped by the rough sea and suddenly sunk. The casualties were taken to Gorleston for transfer to Hospital to have a check over. With all persons being accounted for Happisbugh Lifeboat was stood down and returned to station, being ready for service again at 11am.
The crew of the Atlantic was:
Helm: Cubitt Siely
Crew: Tim Grimmer
Crew: Tony Phenix

The Stations Atlantic Lifeboat was called to the aid of two kite surfers reported in trouble off Reef three at Sea Palling at 1105 today. Friendly Forester II launched with crew of Cubitt Seiely, Tim Grimmer and Tony Phenix, who were stood down by the Coastguards before arriving on scene as the two kite surfers had made their own way ashore, The Lifeboat return to station and was made ready for the next service.

9th August 2010

All go for Happisburgh Lifeboat Crew

Both Happisburgh’s Lifeboats were en route to Sea Palling to help with a photo shot for the RNLI Lifeguards; 50 lifeguards from Norfolk beaches were waiting for the arrival of the boats to form a background for their photos. At 1905hrs the Coastguard called to ask for assistance in a search for an 8 yr old boy who had gone missing 2 hrs earlier from Horsey Sands campsite. On receiving this request and full information the Atlantic Lifeboat took command of the sea search. The ‘D’ Class lifeboat started the coastline search from the North end of the search area while the Atlantic moved further down the coast before starting its search. As they moved down the coast they went onto the beach to check a group of swimmers, who were unable to help. On pulling away they were waved down by 2 adults who had found a young boy in the sand dunes. Immediately the Atlantic returned towards the beach and crewman Christian Larter swam ashore at 1920hrs, checked out the boy and identified him as the missing child. He was unharmed, but upset and frightened. Christian gave reassurance until the arrival of the Police at 1930hrs, who then took over and reunited him with his family. Both lifeboats then returned to Sea Palling to complete their photo shoot with the RNLI Lifeguards before returning to station and being re-housed and ready for service at 2100hrs.

The crew of the Atlantic was:
Helmsman Tim Grimmer
Crew Matt Bales & Christian Larter

and ‘D’ Class:
Helmsman Tony Phenix
Crew Nathan Coe, Charlotte Siely & Ross Scannell

August 2nd
Successful Lifeboat Day

Despite overcast skies, hundreds of people flocked to the clifftop at Happisburgh for the Station’s annual Lifeboat Day and Fete. There was lots to see and do, including static displays by RNLI Lifeguards, Happisburgh’s ‘D’ Class Lifeboat, Broads Beat Police, the Coastguards, Norfolk Fire Service and Harley Davison motorbikes. There were also stalls including Bric-a-brac, Tombola, Crockery Smash, Coconut Shy, Splat the Rat and much more. There was a hog roast/BBQ, Bar, Cake Stall and refreshments. We had displays from Gorleston Lifeboat, Happisburgh Lifeboat, the RNLI Lifeguards Jet-ski and the Coastguard’s Cliff Rescue team. The crowds were entertained by the “Happisburgh 4” who played a mixture of well known music. Despite the poor weather at the end, which unfortunately led to the cancellation of the tug of war and the fete finishing early, we still managed to raise over £4,000 to enable the station to carry on with its vital role of saving lives at sea. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year 7th August 2011.
Lifeboat Day and Fete

July 21st
Happisburgh (C of E) Primary School has unveiled a Mozaic of the RNLI Friendly Forrester II on service. Cedric Cox, the Lifeboat Operations Manager, unveiled the Mozaic this afternoon, after which the children sang, in very appropriate circumstances, 'Windy Old Weather'.

17th July
Our Lifeboat Crew support Happisburgh (C of E) Primary School's Fete

Investing in the Future
Our Lifeboat Education and Visits Officer, Michael Knight, has been working hard to give young people the opportunity to experience life as a RNLI volunteer. Working with the Duke of Edinburgh scheme the Station gives young people, either as individuals or groups, to do their Service or Training parts of their D of E scheme with the Happisburgh Lifeboat Station. The course he runs is based on the RYA Yacht Master Shore Based Scheme with the opportunity for candidates to take the RYA Power Boat Course, run by the RAFSA at Ipswich, which qualifies participants for a Power Boat Level 2 Certificate. This has now been running for two years.

We have just had 3 young people go through the above course: Nathan Coe who is 18 years old, Charlotte Siely who is 17 years old and Cubitt Siely who is 15 years old. All three passed the Power Boat Level 2 after completing RYA Yacht Master Shore Based Scheme; this will all go towards their Silver Award part of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.

Nathan has joined the Lifeboat Crew at Happisburgh as a Probationer Crew Member and has been to the RNLI College at Poole to do his crew course “the D of E training I have done at the Station helped me to get the most out of the RNLI training. It gave me an insight into the RNLI and the work they do”.

Charlotte is a prospective Probationer Crew Member and looking forward to the future.

Cubitt will have to wait till he reaches 17 years old before he can join the crew but will stay in contact with the Station helping where he can.

If anyone is interested they can Contact Mike Knight on 01692 650484 or visit the Station website: www.happisburgh-lifeboat.org.uk and see Events for Young People for further details

July 24th
We supported the South Broads Lifeboat Station's Raft Race at Waveney River Centre. Michael Knight, the Happisburgh LSSO, carried out several Free RNLI SeaChecks
Mr and Mrs Mc Ginnes on Osprey

4th July 2010
Diver in trouble six miles off Happisburgh. Happisburghs Atlantic lifeboat was out on exercise when it was diverted to a dive boat six miles off Happisburgh with a diver with query the bends at 10.52am today. At the time Happisburgh lifeboat was exercising off the reefs at Sea Palling, they immediately set course to the casualty and arrived alongside the casualty at 11.08am. The diver, a male in his early fifties, had had problems on his ascent from the sea bed. He was already on oxygen. The casualty was checked by the lifeboat crew before being transferred to the lifeboat in readiness for the arrival of a RAF rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham. The winchman from rescue helicopter 125, was lowered to the lifeboat, carried out his assessment of the casualty before airlifting him to JPH at Gorleston for treatment. The lifeboat then escorted the dive boat with the rest of the diving group back to the beach at Sea Palling before returning to Happisbugh station being ready for service at 12.35pm. The crew were helmsman Tim Grimmer, Nathan Coe and trainee Charlotte Siely.

June 2010

New helmsman takes charge for his first rescue today, when a speedboat had engine failure off reef one at Sea Palling at 1145. The pager went off at 1148 just as the crew had just returned from their Sunday morning exercise and were in the process of refuelling the Atlantic ready for service. They were on the water and away at 1150, with Matt Bales at the helm for his first rescue in charge with Tony Phenix and Pete James as his crew. The speed boat with three people on board had engine failure. On arrival the crew checked the people on board who were well and unharmed. The crew were unable to restart the speedboat’s engine so took it in tow and returned it to Cart Gap at Happisburgh at 1230 and helped all ashore. The Atlantic was back on service at 1240.

June 2010

Pagers went off for the launch of the stations D Class Lifeboat at 1320 today the 19th June 2010. The crew and shore crew headed to the station. Senior helmsman Cubitt Siely was already at the station and knowing the weather conditions, NNW wind force 6 and very large swell, he contacted the Coastguards at Yarmouth and suggested, due to weather conditions they should use the stations Atlantic Lifeboat being more suitable; this was agreed. Friendly Forester II headed off to Sea Palling Reef 5 to the aid of two wind surfers, one of which had experienced equipment failure and been de-masted. He had been washed over the reef and aided ashore by the RNLI Lifeguards at Sea Palling; Happisburgh Lifeboat was stood down by the Coastguard. Due to the weather conditions it was not safe to recover the Lifeboat at Happisburgh, so the decision was made to do this at Sea Palling. The shore crew and tractor and trailer made their way to Sea Palling by road and set up for a “net” recovery, as the Lifeboat waited off shore for their arrival. However again, due to weather conditions, there was no room for manoeuvring inside the reef; the only safe option was to beach the boat. This was done safely and the shore crew recovered the boat onto the trailer and returned to Happisburgh by road and was back on service at 1615. The crew were, Cubitt Siely, Tim Grimmer and Matt Bales. The casualty was believed to have suffered only abrasions not seen by the Lifeboat crew. Happisburgh Lifeboat station would like to thank Sea Palling Lifeboat for their help and advice in recovering our boat safely on their beach.

27th June 2010

New helmsman takes charge for his first rescue today, when a speedboat had engine failure off reef one at Sea Palling at 1145. The pager went off at 1148 just as the crew had just returned from their Sunday morning exercise and were in the process of refuelling the Atlantic ready for service. They were on the water and away at 1150, with Matt Bales at the helm for his first rescue in charge with Tony Phenix and Pete James as his crew. The speed boat with three people on board had engine failure. On arrival the crew checked the people on board who were well and unharmed. The crew were unable to restart the speedboat’s engine so took it in tow and returned it to Cart Gap at Happisburgh at 1230 and helped all ashore. The Atlantic was back on service at 1240.

June 2010

The New Boathouse is now finished and both boats and tractors are now in one building ready for service. The boathouse gives us room to move around both and carry out any work that is needed without moving the boats outside.

Please make a note that this year’s Lifeboat Fete is on Sunday 1st August 2010, 1pm to 5pm on Town Gap Field, Beach Road. We look forward to seeing you there.

28th May 2010

At 12.10 pm today Happisburgh’s Atlantic Lifeboat, Friendly Forester II was called to the aid of a 31ft day liner motor cruiser on route from Brighton to Wells. They had mechanical problems and not making way off the coast at Walcott. The Atlantic with Cubitt Siely at the helm, Tim Grimmer and Tony Phenix as crew arrived alongside the motor cruiser at 12.25 pm to find 2 people onboard – there were no injuries sustained. The crew boarded the motor cruiser but were unable to get the boat started so took it in tow heading towards Grt Yarmouth. At approximately 2 pm the tow was handed over to the Gorleston Lifeboat for the rest of the tow to Grt Yarmouth. Friendly Forester II returned to station and was recovered and ready for service at 2.45 pm.

May 2010

Volunteers from Happisburgh Lifeboat Station were outside Tesco’s in Stalham on 21st and 22nd May collecting for the R.N.L.I. over the two day they raised £ 2,055 to help with saving life at sea,

April 25th 2010

This weekend has been very busy for our volunteer crews. The Atlantic 75 joined the station a year ago and since then there has been additional training required, most of which has been carried out at RNLI College, Poole, then more on station. For the past two and a half days the crews have been put through their paces by the Eastern Divisional Trainer/Assessor Tom Pederson, both on land and sea. The training covered boat handling, navigation, anchoring, towing, capsize drills, pyrotechnic equipment and fitness tests. Tom arrived on Friday afternoon and classroom training started at once; Saturday started at 9am with both the Friendly Forester II and Spirit of Berkhamsted at sea until 6pm, with crew members changing from one to the other as well as a capsize boat. The training was for all crew from helmsmen to the newest crewman to be assessed. This will help them all improve and enable the station to plan their training needs.

The Station’s new temporary lifeboat shed is well under way now and is expected to be in use by the end of May, meaning both boats and tractors will be in one shed and ready for service. The containers will be removed leaving the new shed and crew room, classroom and office space. All the crew are volunteers and have given the whole weekend up to be able to deliver the best service possible to people in difficulty at sea.

January 2010

Happisburgh Lifeboat Station is mourning the sudden loss of our former Chairman, Bronson Fargo who died suddenly at age 52 on 15th January 2010. Bronson held the post of Chairman for the best part of a decade, during this time we had the loss of our ramp at Happisburgh and then moved to Cart Gap, last year we saw the arrival of our Atlantic 75 to join D-Class to extend our capabilities in saving life at sea. He will be sadly missed by the Station and will not be forgotten, and our best wishes go to his family both here and in the United States

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