1st August 2012

LYME REGIS: Seaside spectacular in the sun

LIFEBOAT WEEK ANOTHER HUGE SUCCESS FOR RNLI

By Francesca Evans

THIS year’s Lifeboat Week has been another great success for the RNLI, as well as the most dramatic on record, with eight emergency call-outs in nine days keeping the crew extra busy.

As temperatures soared for the first time in weeks, huge crowds packed the town. The more spectacular events saw thousands line the seafront, including visits from the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team and the Red Arrows, who put on an impressive finale to the week of fundraising events.

Chairman of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild, Rob Michael, said: “It has been another successful year. We were extremely fortunate with the weather given what it was like before.

“Some events were up and some events were down but we think for the bigger events we had more people than ever.”

Last year Lifeboat Week raised a record total of £48,000 but Mr Michael said he was not expecting to reach this again as it had included some “extraordinary factors”.

“However, it will be up there with one of the best normal years,” he added.

Mr Michael said that no events were disrupted by the weather and only one or two were disrupted by the amount of times the lifeboat crew was called out.

The total raised is not yet known but volunteers are now counting up takings and the total will be published in the View From Lyme Regis in coming weeks.

Events during the latter half of the week including the Lyme Regis and St George’s Twinning Association’s annual Admiral Sir George Somers Commemoration Parade and Service. The Mayor of St George’s in Bermuda, Kenneth Bascombe, and town crier David Frith, visited the town for the event. The parade was led down Broad Street, along Marine Parade and onto the Cobb for a commemoration service for Lyme’s former mayor who colonised the islands of Bermuda following his shipwreck there.

Photos of the parade and service will be featured in next week’s View From Lyme Regis.

Other events included the popular Yard of Ale Competition at the Cobb Arms and the traditional Bathtub Race, which saw 18 teams race across the water in homemade rafts, with Lyme Regis Fire Brigade taking first place.

There was plenty for the children, including a beach treasure hunt, sandcastle competition, sand sports, pavement art, a crab fishing competition and teddy bear’s picnic in the Marine Parade shelters.

The Nag’s Head hosted their popular barbecue with live music and skittles competitions were held on the Slipway each evening.

Boylos watersports shop held windsurfing and stand-up paddle boarding taster sessions, while the lifeboat crew were joined by the RAF Falcons and members of Uplyme and Lyme Regis Cricket Club for an evening match.

Some of the crew’s latest recruits helped with a duck race down the River Lim, with hundreds of ducks being sold for the event.

Adults and children took a dip for the swimming race, which was later followed by a grand fireworks display marking the final evening of the week.

As well as the Red Arrows, other events on the final day included a classic car display and the annual fun run around the town.

PICTURE 1: THE RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team (also pictured on page 5) landed on the main beach on Friday afternoon, following a spectacular 12,000 feet jump thanks to clear skies. The jump was watched by thousands on the beach, Marine Parade and in the gardens. After landing, a salute was taken by Group Captain Brian Lavender, from Kilmington, and the team were introduced to the Mayor of Lyme Regis, Councillor Sally Holman, and Mayoress Jane Whittington.

PICTURE 2: THE popular Red Arrows soared over Lyme Bay on Sunday afternoon as a finale to the spectacular week. The aerobatic team flew with seven planes instead of the usual nine following the deaths of pilots Jon Egging and Sean Cunningham. A photo of last year’s balloon release, which was held in memory of Flight Lieutenant Egging following his death just weeks after their previous performance, was presented to Squadron Leader Mike Ling at Sunday’s display by memorial organiser Becca Overton.

PICTURE 3: THE traditional Bathtub Race on Saturday was as popular as ever with 18 entrants battling it out to cross the water from Cobb Gate to the harbour first. Winners were Lyme Regis Fire Brigade. Pictured is Team Trotter.

PICTURE 4: NINE-year-old Isabelle was presented a Lifeboat Week-theme cake for her birthday by grandparents Alan and Lynne Vian

PICTURE 5: Lyme Regis Coastguards give a cliff rescue demonstration on Marine Parade

Photo by ROB COOMBE AND FRANCESCA EVANS