Charity

Fishguard RNLI celebrates lifeboat’s 30 years of service

Published

2 weeks ago

September 1, 2024

AS the RNLI celebrates 200 years of lifesaving service Fishguard RNLI celebrates its own milestone of 30 years of Blue Peter VII saving lives on the North Pembrokeshire coast.

Monday 2 September 2024 marks the 30^th anniversary of the all weather Trent class lifeboat Blue Peter VII being placed on service at RNLI Fishguard.

Chosen as the replacement for the station’s all weather Arun class lifeboat Marie Winstone, the smaller Blue Peter VII was the charity’s most modern purpose-built class of lifeboat within the fleet at the time, and other than a few periods away for essential maintenance and refit has spent the majority of 30 years saving lives and helping those in distress at sea off the coast of North Pembrokeshire.

In 1993 the BBC children’s television programme Blue Peter ran the ‘Pieces of Eight’ appeal. Children and families across the country gathered all sorts of items which could be sold to raise funds to replace the charity’s existing inshore lifeboats Blue Peter I to VI. Not only did they raise enough money to cover these lifeboats into the 21^st century, they also had enough left over to fund the first, and to date only all weather lifeboat to carry the Blue Peter name, and the iconic ship emblem.

The Trent class all weather lifeboats were introduced into the charity’s lifesaving fleet at a cost of approximately £1 million each and were named after the River Trent in England. They are primarily fitted with two 860hp MAN diesel engines which produce a top speed of 25 knots, and carry sufficient fuel to cover a range of 250 nautical miles.

At 14 metres long, all Trent class lifeboats are identifiable by the operational number beginning with 14 on the hull. The second part of this number indicates the order in which they were built.

Blue Peter VII bears the operational number 14-03, indicating that it was the third of the class to be built, however it was placed on station before 14-02 in Ramsgate, making it the longest serving Trent in the fleet with 14-01 having been retired in 2019.

With over 30 years of service, Fishguard’s lifeboat is older than some of today’s crew. Indeed over the years, those crewing Blue Peter VII have changed as crew members come and go. However, some such as volunteer brothers coxswain Chris Bean and crew member Warren Bean (also a current ILB helm) and former full time station mechanic Stephen Phillips were serving crew on its arrival and are still volunteer crew today.

Former station mechanic and current volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Chris Williams said: ‘When the Blue Peter VII lifeboat came to Fishguard she was very much at the cutting edge of SAR technology. With one of the first computerised navigation systems and a top speed of 25kts (or 28.5 mph), she was one of the most up to date and capable all weather lifeboats in the world. Thirty years on, the rest of the RNLI fleet has caught up, but she is still a very capable, and above all, safe, boat, and, approaching a 1,000 “shouts” later, still doing the job she was designed to do.

Full time station coxswain Gemma Gill, said: ‘It’s an enormous honour to be trusted to be in command of an RNLI search and rescue asset, keeping the boat and crew safe, and hopefully saving the life of a casualty too.

For me it’s an additional honour to be in command of a Blue Peter craft. I’m from the East Lothian town of North Berwick, and as a child I was an avid watcher of Blue Peter, taking part in all the appeals and being proud of seeing my efforts playing a tiny part in the purchase of lifeboats.

In 1994 I watched the naming ceremony of Blue Peter III (D-452) and decided that one day I would be a lifeboat crew member too! That journey started in June 2001 with my initial induction trip and training aboard that very D class and continued with many years of volunteering in Aberystwyth aboard the 75, then 85 and Arancia, the Wales and West flood team, (where I finally got a Blue Peter badge!), and then on into employment as a lifeboat trainer in the college in Poole. I hope to safely see out the rest of Blue Peter VII service life here in Fishguard, and I hope that any girls or boys who hear about lifeboating through Blue Peter will also be inspired to volunteer once they are old enough.’

Charity

St John’s mark Falls Awareness Week by announcing new rapid response service

Published

4 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SAINT John Ambulance Cymru has secured a contract to provide a new Welfare and Falls Rapid Response service in the Pembrokeshire area, which will see staff responding to incidents to assess and assist people, reducing demand on Emergency Medical Services.

The Haverfordwest-based scheme will be run in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB) and will initially run from October 1^st 2024 until March 31^st 2025.

The scheme will follow on from the Falls Response scheme which has been operated by St John Ambulance Cymru in partnership with HDUHB and Wales Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WASUT) in the same area since January 2023.

The announcement comes as St John Ambulance Cymru marks Falls Awareness Week from 16-20 September alongside fellow members of the National Falls Prevention Taskforce Wales.

The Falls Taskforce is an alliance focused on falls prevention for older people in across the country and includes Age Cymru, Age Connects Wales, Care & Repair Cymru, St John Ambulance Cymru, representatives from all seven health boards, as well as national and local government, public, private and other third sector organisations.

St John Ambulance Cymru’s Head of Ambulance Operations, Helen Coulthard said: “This new contract is a testament to the great service our staff have provided to people in this area of West Wales as part of the current scheme. To date the scheme has attended to over 1,000 people and saved an ambulance from attending on more than 500 occasions.

“St John Ambulance Cymru continues to build on its record of providing high quality help to patients all over the country and we look forward to continuing that work with this new scheme.”

St John Ambulance Cymru operates Falls Response schemes in communities across Wales, working in partnership with WASUT, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and the Vale of Glamorgan Council. In 2023 these schemes, together with the current Pembrokeshire scheme, helped a total of 12,815 patients.

Falls Response is just one of the services provided by the charity’s Ambulance Operations team, with more than 24,000 patients helped in 2023, including patient transport and other schemes such as the Taith Dda Mental Health Response Service.

For more information on the healthcare services provided by St John Ambulance Cymru, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/page/healthcare-services.

Charity

FRAME is looking for passionate leaders to join its Board of Directors

Published

4 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

FRAME, one of Pembrokeshire’s leading charities, is excited to announce the recruitment of new directors to join its Board. As FRAME continues to grow and expand its impact on the community, we are seeking passionate individuals who want to help steer our charity toward an even brighter future.

Since 1994, Pembrokeshire FRAME has been at the heart of the community, providing life-changing support for individuals with additional needs, while also promoting environmental sustainability by reducing waste through the reuse of furniture and household items. Our social enterprises, such as furniture upcycling and gardening projects, have provided invaluable work experience for adults with learning difficulties, mental health issues, and disabilities. To sustain and enhance our impact, we need strong, dedicated leaders on our board.

What They’re Looking For:

FRAME are seeking individuals who are passionate about charity work, social enterprise, and environmental sustainability. We’re particularly interested in those with experience in the following areas:

Finance (accountancy, financial management)
Legal (charity law, governance)
Retail
Fundraising
Marketing & Communications (digital marketing, PR)
Social Enterprise Development
Human Resources & Leadership
Environmental & Sustainability Expertise
Lived Experience (experience with disability, mental health, or social exclusion)

Why Join Our Board?

By joining our Board of Directors, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of our charity. You’ll help us continue making a real difference in people’s lives by providing opportunities for learning, employment, and community engagement while also supporting

If you are interested in applying, please visit www.pembrokeshire-frame.org.uk/vacancies for more information.

Charity

Tenby musical extravaganza raises over £1700 for Lifeboats

Published

21 hours ago

September 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

TENBY was alive with the sound of music and community spirit this past weekend, as the Hay Shantymen delivered an unforgettable performance, raising approximately £1,700 for the Tenby lifeboat station.

Despite inclement weather, the event, held at the Tenby Brewing Co., saw a full house, with every ticket sold contributing directly to the lifeboat fund. The venue, known for its commitment to local causes and excellent beer, played host to an evening filled with lively shanties and heartfelt camaraderie.

John, a crew member from the Tenby Lifeboats RNLI, provided an “inspirational and mildly terrifying” tour of the lifeboat earlier in the day, further solidifying the community’s appreciation for the brave work of the RNLI volunteers. Mags, another lifeboat team member, was noted for her cheerful demeanour as she navigated the crowd with a donations card reader, ensuring everyone had a chance to contribute.

The Shantymen expressed profound gratitude to their audience and supporters on social media, stating, “Thanks so much to everybody who came to our gigs on Saturday. It was such a brilliant weekend, despite the weather’s best efforts.”

Unfortunately, the Shantymen had to cancel their planned busking in town on Sunday due to a combination of the bad weather and some very sore throats, much to the disappointment of both the band and their fans.

Feedback from the community was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees sharing their joy on social media. Karen Gill, a local attendee, remarked, “Thought you were brilliant, really enjoyed listening to and watching you all, thank you!”

The event not only showcased the tight-knit community of Tenby but also highlighted the critical role that fundraising plays in supporting vital services like the RNLI. The Tenby Brewing Co. echoed this sentiment, expressing their delight at hosting the event and looking forward to more such gatherings in the future.