Tag Archives: lifeboat

Carnival 2013: Friday August 16th Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier

Carnival 2013 harbour trip as pirates, Curtis and sister

Carnival 2013 Pirates Curtis and sister waiting to go aboard for the Lifeboat Demonstration.

Carnival 2013: Pirate ship watching Lifeboat demonstration

Carnival 2013: Pirate ship watching Lifeboat demonstration

Carnival 2013: Watching Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier, from 'Ramblin' Rose' : photo Thomas Cowley

Carnival 2013: Watching Lifeboat Demonstration, from ‘Ramblin’ Rose’ : photo Thomas Cowley

After the Prize Giving there was a special treat for all who had booked a place on pirate ships, ‘Yarmouth Rose and Ramblin’ Rose’, courtesy of Pirate Peter Lemonius – the Lifeboat Demonstration off the Pier.

Carnival 2013: Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier : photo Thomas Cowley

Carnival 2013: Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier : photo Thomas Cowley

Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier

Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier: photio Thomas Cowley

 

 

 

Coxswain Howard Lester and his crew put on a fine display of rescue techniques, some involving the Coastguard Helicopter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carnival 2013: Lifeboat Demonstration of rescuing from the water off Yarmouth Pier . photo Thomas Cowley

Carnival 2013: Lifeboat Demonstration of rescuing from the water off Yarmouth Pier . photo Thomas Cowley

Those on the ‘Roses’ and those watching from the Pier enjoyed a great show, and some late evening sun.

Carnival 2013: Lifeboat Demonstration  off Yarmouth Pier using 'Y Boat' : photo Thomas Cowley

Carnival 2013: Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier using ‘Y Boat’ : photo Thomas Cowley

Carnival 2013 : End of Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier: photo Thomas Cowley

Carnival 2013 : End of Lifeboat Demonstration off Yarmouth Pier: photo Thomas Cowley

 

 

Joy Lawry: WWII Lifeboat 1940s

The firing of the lifeboat maroons was stopped during the war. At night, when Dad  ( Walter Cotton, the Coxswain)’s phone  rang, he would answer it and while he was putting his clothes on, he would shout to me to get the men for the boat. So I would get up, put my shoes on, my coat over my nightie, and as I went out the door I’d grab my stick.   I would then run round the men’s houses in the pitch dark and tap on their bedroom windows with my stick and shout “Dad wants you on the boat!” and then go back to bed.  I might occasionally see an ARP man but usually nobody.

The Yarmouth Lifeboat had to take a policeman (a special usually) with them on a call and enquire the nationality of the men needing rescuing. Whether the enquiry was made before or after rescue, I don’t know!  After a while, the R.A.F. Air Sea Rescue boats were used, as most of the calls were for planes ditching and the A.S.R. boat was faster. Joy Lawry nee Cotton b 1922

 

Eileen Smith, Charlie Lansdowne: Harbour, Lifeboat, 1920, 1930s

My father was signalman on the lifeboat – there was no radio, they had to rely on signals, semaphore and morse. His boots were kept just inside the door so if the maroon went he could be gone straight away. On one occasion when the lifeboat went out, I can remember my mother asking Mrs Cotton, the Coxswain’s wife where they’d gone, but they never knew, of course, when they’d be back. Walter Cotton, the Coxswain had come from Brighstone. My father said if Walter was moved, he’d go with him, he was such a good coxswain. Eileen Smith b 1921

Lifeboat crew 1920s

Lifeboat crew 1920s

Back row from left: Harry White, Jim Hobbs, Charlie Lansdowne,( signalman) Harold Hayles. Capt. Cottrell,
Front row: Fred Wadham, Albert Hayward( engineer) , Walter Cotton ( coxswain), Stan Smith (2nd cox)

 

 

 

Sue Russell: Harbour, lifeboat, 1950s, 1960s

Lifeboat Crew 1966

Lifeboat Crew 1966

Our Father was lifeboat Coxswain for many years and the maroons were let off from our garden,  under the clothes line. We always had to make sure the line was empty of clothes otherwise they would have gone up too.  I was paid, I think it was two shillings and 6 pence, to time from when the maroons went off to when lifeboat left the harbour, which was a lot of money in those days. Sue Russell nee Hayles b 1940

Eileen Smith: Trips and Treats in the lifeboat

During Cowes Week the families of the lifeboat crew used to have a wonderful treat.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during Cowes Week the Yarmouth lifeboat went to Cowes to take people out to see all the liners and naval boats visiting Cowes, anchored offshore, and all the grand yachts like the ‘Victoria and Albert’. The Bembridge boat did the other days. It raised money for the RNLI.
The families of the crew were allowed to travel in the lifeboat to Cowes, leaving Yarmouth at 9.30 and returning at 3.30. We used to have the first trip out to see all the grand boats. Then we children would paddle a bit and eat our sandwiches whilst sitting on the Green watching all the boats. Sometimes the sea was a bit choppy, but we didn’t mind. We loved our special week. Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b 1921