Lifeboat Day 2011

Another magnificent Lifeboat Day here at Cromer marking 207 years of saving lives at sea.

The week leading up to this years lifeboat day didn't look promising, with colder weather, a stiff breeze and moderate swell in the water! As usual though, the weather changed on the morning of the event with clear skies, bright sunshine and light a breeze.

Things started early for all the volunteers at Cromer, with the Ladies Guild setting up stalls on the promenade and Museum volunteers setting up stalls on the pier forecourt. There were cakes, teddy bears and RNLI mechanise to buy as well as a Spot the Dangers competitions and a QR code trivia hunt.

Active station personnel were on hand during the early part of the morning to lend a hand where needed to help get everything ready for the days events.

Shortly before 11:00 the lifeboat crew & shore crew were called into the crew room for a briefing about the days display, which kicked off at 11:00 with the relief Tamar lifeboat Victor Freeman launching down the slipway to join the Sheringham lifeboat that had come along to join in with the days display. Commentary for the display was once more provided by our good friend, Ian Hunter, from the Kettering fund-raising branch.

The display included man-over-board recovery, boat handling skills, rescue techniques and close quarter manoeuvring and lifeboat slipway recovery displays which included the Tamar, Y-class daughter boat, IB1 inshore lifeboat, Atlantic 85, RNLI Lifeguards and our very own Shore Crew.

After the lifeboats had been recovered there was a chance for members of the public to take a look around them, by stepping aboard the Tamar and gathering around the IB1 on the pier forecourt next to the Cromer Coastguard display.

After a short break for a bite to eat and a cup of tea, the days events continued with a short family service in the lifeboat house on the pier at 3.00pm. Cromer branch chairman Tony Webster compared the act of worship. Prayers were lead by Rev. Canon David Court the Vicar of Cromer and reading were given by John Davies - Coxswain, Mearl Brown - Senior Helmsman and Donna Earl - Vice Chairman of the Ladies Lifeboat Guild.

We are really grateful for the tremendous support on the day and would like to thank everyone who came to meet us!