Hastings Lifeboat Concert kicks off Carnival!

Indeed, the Concert kicks off Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2024, 1st to 12th August (website), at the Stade Open Space, preceeded by the Carnival Opening Ceremony at 14.45. The concert is being held to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI, facebook), and is free to enjoy from 15.00, although entry is from 13.00.

Although the concert is free, any donations to the RNLI and Hastings Lifeboat would be "warmly welcome and hugely appreciated." An excellent tribute to our local heroes!

Hastings Lifeboat Open Day Saturday 27th of July 2024

This Saturday (27th of July 2024) will see Hastings RNLI Emergency Services Open Day (facebook). This will be held at Hastings Lifeboat Station and on The Stade Open Space in front of the station from 10.00am to 4.00pm; that is 10.00 to 16.00 hours.

You are invited to see how the Shannon Class RNLI 13-28 The Richard and Caroline Colton and Hastings RNLI Emergency Services work; also see video. Enjoy the informative day folks!

RNLI Lifeboats Remembered

Earlier today I revisited the final resting berths off the 2 historic lifeboats that welcome people as they enter Hastings 'Old Town' via Old London Road. The first boat is the 100 year-old Priscilla MacBean, which was pulled up The Bourne on the 15th of November 2014 (blog), exactly 86 years to the day after the sad tragedy that befell her sister lifeboat the Mary Stanford of Rye, and the loss of her 17-strong crew (RNLI). So, really the stories here are not just about the 2 lifeboats berthed in this part of the 'Old Town' but of 3 lifeboats and their brave crews, plus fourth and fifth lifeboats, the one we now have in Hastings, the Richard and Caroline Colton, and her predecessor the Sealink Endeavour (blog), and the brave volunteers and crews who help to save and preserve lives more recently in Hastings and nearby waters, 5 lifeboats, and many more...

The second historic lifeboat you reach when coming down Old London Road into The Bourne is the 'Ghost of Dunkirk' the Cyril and Lilian Bishop, which helped to evacuate troops from Dunkirk near the beginning of World War II. She was also pulled up from the seafront a few years later, this time up through All Saints Street in June 2017 and is now berthed below All Saints Church on the corner with Harold Road (blog).

With much respect to RNLI lifeboat crews and volunteers past and present...

Yacht towed to safety by Hastings Lifeboat.

Hastings Lifeboat Station (early hours)

It was a few nights ago, but I just noticed on their facebook page, that the Hastings Lifeboat RNLI 13-28, the Richard & Caroline Colton, was called out to just off Pett Level as a 36ft yacht was in difficulties. The coxswain assessed that the best course of action was to tow the yacht to safety, which happened, as appropriate. 

With respect to the RNLI and its crews and volunteers, many thanks! 

Walking, Seafront, Parks and Shopping, Lucky Us!

Rather than walk eastwards today, my exercise included a couple of walks along the seafront, first, to the west and then heading away from the seafront by the majestic Marine Court (older blog) and walking up through the delightful St Leonards Gardens (another older blog). I cut across to Bohemia Road via Tower Road to go shopping at Lidl, as you do sometimes when you go shopping. Then, to get home, I walked back downhill through yet another delightful park, Alexandra Park (above, and yet another older blog). We are so lucky, not only do we have the healthy seafront to walk along, but 3 excellent award winning parks too (blog), quality! 

Hastings Lifeboat

It almost makes lockdown bearable... almost, but it does help a lot. Anyway, after a mug of tea and a couple of Rich Tea biscuits, I headed out along the front again, though eastwards this time, as I had to collect something fishing boat/work related. Lo and behold, our Shannon Class lifeboat, RNLI 13-28 Richard & Caroline Colton was sitting outside the Hastings Lifeboat Station (above), that was a pleasant surprise! The video linked in this blog during Storm Ciara earlier this year is well worth watching if you haven't already seen it. Although I've seen it quite a few times and feel blessed by our lifeboat crew and volunteers every time I see it, my respect to them all!

Storm Ciara and the Richard & Caroline Colton

Hastings lifeboat, the Shannon Class Richard & Caroline Colton RNLI 13-28 (pictured above when it first arrived in Hastings - see blog) was out in Storm Ciara on Sunday, most readers will already be aware I imagine, following a surfer being pulled out to sea whilst experiencing huge waves and high winds. Luckily, no-one was hurt, and I continue to admire the RNLI crew and volunteers who put their lives at risk to help and save others, respect!

Whilst not on call yesterday evening, the crew that was on call on Sunday were relaxing at the Dolphin Inn, with only one crew member owning up to enjoying the experience of the boat turning nearly 180 degrees, most, including the coxwain, admitted the fact the boat immediately righted itself gives them confidence in Richard & Caroline Colton, but they're not in a hurry to experience it again! If you haven't already seen the video that has gone viral over the internet, have a look at the BBC website, and this film is quite amazing, again, much respect from me!

This weekend will see the arrival of Storm Dennis (see Met Office), trusting everyone to be very careful, fingers crossed the lifeboat won't be called out this time.

Hastings Lifeboat Naming Ceremony and Launch.

I was looking forward to the 'naming ceremony' of the new lifeboat, Richard and Caroline Colton, tomorrow (Saturday 27th April) at the Hastings Lifeboat Station (facebook page), however, I just saw on their twitter page that, unfortunately, "due to the inclement weather forecast... the naming ceremony will take place inside the boathouse" restricting the numbers who can attend to "invited guests only..." 

What is still planned though, is the launching of the boat at 13.00, so not all bad for the uninvited, keeping an eye on the weather forecast (Met Office), fingers crossed...

Hastings Lifeboat - Exercise Launch and Recovery

OK, I have to admit I'd forgotten about the exercise launch this morning, being concerned about the Pier, but I noticed her out at sea whilst I was by the Pier, and so rushed along to see the recovery (RNLI Hastings Lifeboat Station facebook page), and took a few photographs; here is RNLI 13-28 returning to the beach, rather fast...

She hit the beach so quickly that I couldn't quite get the correct moment of impact, but this is just as she mounts the beach!

And the recovery continues as she is hauled up the beach, nice one...

Hastings Lifeboat Station Quiz Night Tonight!

Hastings Lifeboat Station is having its first Quiz Night to help raise funds this evening (13th November) since the arrival, and going into service, of its new Shannon class RNLI 13-28 lifeboat (blog). The event starts at 7.30pm at East Hastings Sea Angling Association, opposite the Lifeboat Station at the Stade. Entry per person is £2.50, with a maximum of 4 people allowed per team; complimentary 'nibbles' will be provided.

Your chance to have a fun evening, and to contribute to the RNLI! 

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. 

A New Lifeboat Arrives in Hastings, More Photographs!

These photographs are with thanks to our roving photographer Marcus, who has a significantly better camera and eye than I have, cheers Marcus!

To get an idea of how these photographs run you can see my previous blog, but essentially this is the new Shannon Class Hastings Lifeboat, the Richard & Caroline Colton arriving in Hastings today, accompanied by the present Hastings and Eastbourne Lifeboats, together with 2 inshore lifeboats, great memory, cheers!

Hastings Day Weekend!

As you can see above, the bonfire was already being prepared on Pelham Beach this morning for tomorrow's HBBS procession, dressing up, flaming torches, drums, fireworks and, of course, this year's bonfire and effigies (website). The procession starts at White Rock at 7.15pm tomorrow evening (13th October) and the fireworks are due to be ignited from 9.30pm (map on website).

Earlier in the day, Hastings new Shannon Class lifeboat will be arriving, escorted by both current Hastings lifeboats, and the lifeboats from Rye and Eastbourne (allowing for emergencies). I shall be there and so will many others to welcome her, the Richard & Caroline Colton, about 12 noon (Hastings RNLI facebook page).

Also, Saturday and Sunday, there are many other planned activities (website), for example on both days there are OHPS organised Stade Walks, meeting up outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum at 11am, and on Sunday (Hastings Day, ie the 952nd anniversary of the Battle of Hastings), will be the last OHPS Old Town Guided Walk of the year, meeting up by the top of the West Hill Lift at 2.30pm (website).

Much for everyone in the family to enjoy this weekend!

Hastings New Lifeboat: Richard & Caroline Colton

This is a photograph of Hastings new Shannon Class lifeboat, the Richard & Caroline Colton, now built, and which is due to be launched this Tuesday 3rd of July, and thus begin her sea trials!

This story behind the Richard and Caroline Colton is from the Hastings Lifeboat facebook page: "Our new Shannon-class lifeboat is named Richard and Caroline Colton after the late Mr Richard Colton of Wellingborough and his late wife Caroline Colton.

Although Richard was not keen on the cold waters of the British Isles, during his younger years – and in warmer waters – he was a keen water skier and diver. Throughout his lifetime, Mr Colton was a supporter of the RNLI and he participated in the Ecurie Ecosse Historic Motor Tour in 1991 to raise funds to build a new lifeboat station at Invergordon.

Richard passed away in March 2015 and left an extraordinary legacy to the RNLI of two of the world’s rarest Ferraris. The classic cars were sold at auction for an impressive £8.5M – making the vehicles the most valuable items ever left to the RNLI – which has been used to fund the all-weather lifeboat Richard and Caroline Colton.

Richard’s legacy is also funding the Shannon Launch and Recovery for Hastings which will be named Richard and Mark Colton, after his late son Mark."

Photo courtesy of S Lowe, ALC, many thanks (and there are more on facebook).

Looking forward to her arrival!