The Clacton Scooter Collective came along to the boathouse to present a cheque for £203. The group of scooter enthusiasts meet at the Beach Diner on the promenade near the lifeboat station and held their end of year dinner there earlier in the month. The money was raised mainly through a raffle, and the group would like to thank everyone who donated prizes.

 Press Officer Mel Winger 23/12/2007

Press Officer Mel Winger 20/12/2007

Members of Caley’s Country Dance Club gave the local lifeboat a boost when they presented the station with a cheque for £803. Mark and Jan Caley asked the group which charity they would like to support during the year and the RNLI was chosen for 2007. The money was raised through monthly social evenings and special events including a “Hollywood Night”.

Club member John Nicholson turned the big 70 during the year and asked that instead of presents donations be made to the fund.

Clacton lifeboat crew members Darren Simper and Ray Lynaugh went along to Chester Camp to receive the cheque and say a big “Thank You” to everyone for their tremendous effort.

The photo shows John, Mark and Jan, with Darren and Ray.

Press Officer Mel Winger 15/12/2007

Santa made his annual visit to the Clacton lifeboat station on Sunday 9^th December, where he was met by a large crowd who had braved the wind and rain. One hundred and nine children went to see him in his grotto and each received a small gift. The cold weather made the day feel very seasonal and the ladies were kept busy providing hot drinks.

Press Officer Mel Winger 12/12/2007

Mick Lynn has lived in Cyprus for three years and is now resident in Oroklini with his wife June. He is a retired commercial fisherman and lifeboat coxswain

It was quite obvious that Mick has a great love of the sea. He started his sea-going activities as a 13-year-old schoolboy living in Clacton-upon-Sea, where in his school holidays, he would help out on a pleasure boat - the “Viking Saga”. By the time he was l8 years old he was actually taking the boat out under his own steam, often with 100 people on board! He would take holidaymakers out to the three mile limit to see the pirate radio ships, Radio Caroline and Radio London, where quite often the trippers would get a wave from Tony Blackburn.

He did his first trip with the Clacton lifeboat when he was 16-years-old,
when they had to stand by Radio London for two hours because they were dragging their anchor, but there was no problem. Mick explained that with the radio ships being static, the anchor chains and the bottom of the boat soon became enmeshed in seaweed and floating debris, thereby adding extra weight and putting strain on the anchor. Radio Caroline once broke her moorings and came ashore at Holland-on-Sea.

After training for four years as a commercial vehicle mechanic at a garage, Mick decided he’d had enough and so became a fisherman with his own boat and for 13 years sailed a pleasure boat called “Surf Rider”. In 1966 he became a crew member on the ALB lifeboat (all weather lifeboat, which went out in all conditions), and also a crew member/helmsman of the ILB lifeboat (inshore lifeboat), which could operate in up to a maximum of a Force 7 gale. In 1976 he became an assistant mechanic; second coxswain in l982 and in 1983 became the cox of the ALB. He was a shore helper on the ILB from 1997 to 2003.

Mick has had many adventures during his long service with the Lifeboat Institution and he remembers having to launch the boat into a very rough sea to try and rescue two children, aged 13 and 14 years, who were trapped on a breakwater by the incoming tide. A helicopter was scrambled at the same time in case the boat couldn’t get near enough, but Mick recalls that within seven minutes they had found the children barely able to stand on the breakwater, as the wind had picked up, making the sea even rougher. There were submerged rocks all around, but Mick decided they would have to go onto the rocks to grab the by now terrified children. Fortunately they managed to get them on board the boat, which was a “D class” double skinned inshore vessel.

The residents of Holly Court in Old Road, Clacton-on-Sea have been busy fund-raising for the local lifeboat. They held a table-top sale and made a magnificent £196. Alan Osborn, who is a launcher with the Clacton crew went along to receive the cheque and have a chat and a cup of tea with some of the ladies.

Press Officer Mel Winger 18/11/2007

Coffee Morning a Hit

The Clacton Lifeboat Ladies held a coffee morning on Saturday 13^th October at St Bartholomews church, Holland-on-Sea, and raised a grand total of £173 for the RNLI. The souvenir stall was also busy and took £268, with Christmas cards selling well. Many thanks to everyone for their support.

Press Officer Mel Winger 20/10/2007

Coffee Morning

The Clacton Lifeboat Ladies group are holding a coffee morning on Saturday 13^th October at Saint Bartholomews church, Holland-on-Sea. Doors will be open from 10am until 12 noon with all the usual stalls including a chance to get ready for Christmas with cards, calendars and diaries. Admission is 50p which includes coffee.

 Press Officer Mel Winger 04/10/2007

The Clacton Lifeboat Ladies held a coffee morning on Saturday 7^th July in a member’s garden. The event was well attended, the weather stayed fine, and a total of £350 was raised.

Press Officer Mel Winger 26/07/2007

A quiz night held at the Kingscliff Hotel on 11 July jointly organised by Clacton accountants Jamesons and the Lloyds TSB Business banking centre raised over £1000 for the local branch of the RNLI. Over 100 people turned out on the night which was generously supported by local businesses and quizmaster Jimmy McGowen. Neil Marples and Ian Robinson of Lloyds TSB and Alan Brown from Jamesons are pictured presenting the cheque to Rob Smith, Lifeboat Operations Manager, at Clacton Lifeboat Station.

Press Officer Mel Winger 26/07/2007

The residents of Holly Court in Old Road, Clacton, have held another table top sale and have come up with a cheque for £205. Senior Helm, Tim Dye, went along with other members of the crew to say thank you and have a cup of coffee and a chat.

Press Officer Mel Winger 14/06/2007

The first day of a busy weekend saw a large crowd enjoying the sunshine as they walked round the beautiful gardens and lake and visited the many trade stands. The mobile display unit was on hand, selling gifts and talking about the RNLI. If the weather holds for Sunday we should have a profitable two days.

Barbara and Fred from the Clacton shop and Merilyn from Frinton and Walton went to visit the shops at Sheringham and Cromer to meet some of the staff and get a feel for the other shops in the Eastern region. James Thomson, RNLI Sales manager, was keen to get an exchange of ideas, and declared the day a great success.

The photo shows Barbara, Fred and Merilyn with the volunteers from Cromer.

Press Officer Mel Winger 26/04/2007

Sue Edwards and her granddaughter Tiana paid a visit to the lifeboat house today to see the new station and meet some of the crew. Sue is retiring in May from the Probation Service in Colchester and asked her colleagues to sponsor some crew clothing as a leaving present. As you can see Tiana was only too willing to do a bit of modelling, and fell in love with the boots.

Press Officer Mel Winger 23/04/2007

The Directors of Abodes Estate Agents of Station Road got together with Mark and Maureen Hancock of the Old Lifeboat House Public House in Carnarvon Road to raise money for the local RNLI Lifeboat.

Ian Cresswell, Sales Director of Abodes, said the company had donated a percentage from each of its successful sales for the last three months as well as fund-raising in the office and was delighted that such a large sum was achieved. He thanked his staff for their enthusiastic support.

Mark and Maureen are well known for their hospitality and were pleasantly surprised by the generosity of their regulars.

On a visit to the new boathouse in Hastings Avenue they handed a cheque for £1035.00 to Rob Smith, Operations Manager at the station, who thanked them for their support in keeping the lifeboats afloat.

The photo shows Ian, Mark and Maureen with Rob Smith and staff from Abodes.

Press Officer Mel Winger 13/04/2007

The Clacton Lifeboat Ladies held a coffee morning on Saturday 17^th March at St Bartholomews church Holland-on-Sea. The event was well attended, keeping the ladies busy, and raised £165.69 for the RNLI.

Press Officer Mel Winger 21/03/2007

The Clacton-on-Sea branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution held its’ annual dinner on Friday 16^th March at the Flamingo in Holland-on-Sea. Guest speaker for the evening was Simon Baldock of BBC Essex who has presented the Drive Time program and now works as a researcher on Dave Monks show. Simon has been with the BBC for ten years and had a wide variety of jobs before  including being a waiter, a gents outfitter with Marks and Spencer and running his own pub. Included in his speech were snatches of interviews he had used on his program ranging from a childrens’ cookery class to Dame Judy Dench.

The Branch Chairman, David Porter used the occasion to make a presentation on behalf of the Institution of a statuette to Richard Walker for his service to the lifeboats. Richard, who is Commodore of the Gunfleet Sailing Club, has been a member of the Branch for 23 years and is Vice Chairman and talks presenter.

The Chairman rounded-off the evening by thanking the restaurant and staff for a first-class meal, excellent service and warm hospitality.

The photo shows Richard, Simon and David with Richard,s award.

 Press Officer Mel Winger 19/03/2007

The residents of Holly Court in Old Road, Clacton, came up with the goods again this month. Their table top sale raised a grand total of £222.00 for the local lifeboat. Helmsman, Tim Sutton, went along for a cup of coffee and a chat before accepting the cheque.

 Press Officer Mel Winger 09/03/2007

Coffee Morning

The Clacton Lifeboat Ladies are holding a coffee morning on Saturday 17^th March at St Bartholomews church, Frinton Road, Holland-on-Sea, in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. There will be a lifeboat gift stall, cake stall and the usual raffle. Doors open from 10am until noon, admission is 50p which includes coffee.

Press Officer Mel Winger 05/03/2007

Residents and friends held a fund – raising afternoon at the suggestion of Dennis Knappett a long-time member of the RNLI who has recently moved into the apartments on Marine Parade West. Richard Walker, Clacton’s Admin officer and talks presenter went along to give a slide show, and members of the shop staff were on hand to sell souvenirs. A large turnout meant standing room only in the lounge which was reflected in the magnificent £500 which the event raised.

The photo shows Richard with Dennis.

Press Officer Mel Winger 27/02/2007

Storm Force member Joshua Patrick from Colchester was surprised when he read in the magazine how much it costs to run the lifeboat service. He decided to help his local station at Clacton and set about fund raising. On a visit to the boathouse Josh was able to present Senior Helmsman Tim Dye with a cheque for £120. Well done.

Press Officer Mel Winger 25/02/2007

Wendy Bathard and Paul Barber with their dog Havoc arrived in Clacton on their 5000 mile walk around the coast of England, Wales and Scotland. The trio, who come from Devon, are raising money for the RNLI and Guide Dogs for the Blind and have already collected £20,000. They set out from John-o-Groats on November 15^th and have covered about 1300 miles so far. They expect the walk will take a year by which time they hope to have raised £50,000.

 Press Officer Mel Winger 19/02/2007

The 1^st Holland-on-Sea Beavers paid a visit to the lifeboat house to meet members of the crew and get a close-up look at the lifeboats. They are working to gain the “volunteer in the community” badge and were keen to see what makes people become a lifeboat volunteer. They spent an enjoyable evening at the station and thanked the crew for their help.

 Press Officer Mel Winger 19/02/2007

Simon Janes of Clacton braved the icy waters on Christmas Day and raised £300 for the local RNLI. He was one of the many people who took part in the annual swim off the West Beach which raises funds for local charities. Simon’s sponsors came up with the cash which he presented to Rob Smith, the Lifeboat Operations Manager, on a visit to the boathouse.

Press Officer Mel Winger 13/02/2007

Clacton’s Alton Park School held a fancy dress day to support the lifeboats. Pupils were asked to design a costume to show a connection with the sea. A great variety of good ideas were produced including a fish finger!

The school raised a magnificent £131-62. Three pupils from year 5, April Stevens, Chloe Sutton and Macalistair Johnston came to the boathouse with Assistant Headteacher Tony Coppin to present a cheque to members of the crew.

Press Officer Mel Winger 06/02/2007