Lifeboats Changeover...

So, perhaps fittingly on the day former Hastings Lifeboat coxwain Fred White was laid to rest, the RNLI's longest serving lifeboat, the Sealink Endeavour, Mersey class RNLI 12-002, which served getting on for 30 years from Hastings, was retired from service, following 360 launches...

... Replaced overnight by the Shannon class RNLI 13-28, to be formally named the Richard & Caroline Colton next year, welcome again!

As ever my respect goes out to the crew of Hastings Lifeboat, mostly volunteers, who help to keep British waters safe, and to Fred White R.I.P. 

Fred White R.I.P.

So tomorrow, Wednesday 7th November, the funeral will be held for well known and well respected, retired fisherman and ex-coxwain of Hastings Lifeboat, Fred White, up at the Cemetery at 2pm, wake at the East Hastings Sea Angling Association at The Stade (opposite the Lifeboat Station, appropriately) afterwards... There have been over 16,000 page views of my previous blog announcing the Red Ensign at Hastings Fishermen's Museum being flown at half-mast for Fred showing his popularity, so it looks like there will be a very large turnout  for Fred White R.I.P.

Photograph with many thanks to Eric Reichbaum @ Instagram.

Fred White R.I.P.

Were you woken in the very early hours this morning by the helicopter flying above the Fishermen's Beach below the Old Town, aware that the lifeboat and various emergency vehicles were about? Sadly, the Red Ensign flying at half-mast outside the Fishermen's Museum will provide a clue, local fisherman (retired), and former coxwain of Hastings lifeboat, Fred White was found on the Fishermen's Beach, deceased, R.I.P. Our thoughts are with Fred's family and friends.

For those who are unaware, traditionally, for local fishermen, the ensign will now fly at half-mast every day whilst the museum is open, until after Fred's funeral. 😢