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Charity

Fishguard RNLI celebrates lifeboat’s 30 years of service

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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 30th 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 21st 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

Veterans rally to repair storm damage in Milford Haven

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MILFORD HAVEN’S VC Gallery veterans have stepped up to restore a woodland area hit hard by recent high winds.

The Woodlands in Milford suffered significant damage, with fallen trees crashing onto a farmer’s fence, endangering livestock and damaging the enclosure.

In response, a team of veterans, including trustee Mark Shuttleworth, Simon, Steve, and volunteer of the year Donna Evans, was deployed to clear the trees and rebuild the fencing.

The Woodlands project, run by VC Gallery, offers opportunities for people to connect with nature while learning about biodiversity and conservation.

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Charity

New charity offers grants to young people in Pembrokeshire

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A NEW charity aimed at supporting young people in Pembrokeshire has been established and is now accepting applications for its first round of grants.

The Tenby & County Trust (TACT) was created using funds from the sale of the former Tenby & County Club on The Croft, with the aim of helping young people aged between five and 18 pursue their aspirations.

Trustee David Blackmore explained: “The purpose of TACT is to provide grants that enable young people in Pembrokeshire to follow their ambitions, whether in the creative arts, culture, sports, adventure, science, or languages.”

Substantial investment

Following the sale of the County Club for redevelopment, club members—who were entitled to a share of the proceeds—voted to establish a charity to benefit local youth.

“The money has been invested, and while we are not disclosing the exact amount, it is a considerable six-figure sum,” said Mr Blackmore.

The trust is managed by local trustees, all of whom have either been involved with the former County Club or played significant roles in education within Pembrokeshire.

How to apply

Young people interested in applying for a grant must submit an application via email. This should include the names and email addresses of two supporting sponsors and a statement of no more than 500 words outlining how they would use the funds, including a breakdown of costs.

Grants will be issued quarterly, with the next application deadline set for March 1, 2025. Grants are only available to individuals.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit tenbyandcountytrust.org.

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Charity

Fishing competition aims to raise £2,000 for lifeboat crews

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A FISHING competition in Pembrokeshire hopes to net £2,000 to support lifeboat crews in Angle and Tenby.

The Angle and Tenby Lifeboat Fishing Competition is set to take place on Amroth Beach on Sunday, February 16, with all proceeds going to the RNLI teams that provide lifesaving services along the county’s coastline.

Former Pembroke Dock mayor Peter Kraus is leading the fundraising effort and is appealing for sponsors and raffle prize donations to help reach the target.

Mr Kraus said: “We are hoping to raise £1,000 for each of the lifeboat stations. With your help, that can be possible.

“I need kind sponsors willing to give £50, and I also need nice raffle prizes. This is such a good cause and a vital lifesaving service.”

Anyone wishing to support the event can contact Peter Kraus via email at [email protected] or call 07900 324287.

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