|
Meeting January 2006
"The history & work of the R.N.L.I." (illustrated). Mrs Brenda Hargreaves.
Mrs Brenda Hargreaves gave a very interresting account of the history of the RNLI to the
Societys January meeting.
Up to the 18th century coastal communities could only look on helplessly as boats were
wrecked and lives lost close to shore. Early lifeboats often spent more time smuggling,
whilst a beach patrol in Northumberland blowing horns were largely ineffective.
The first major step forward came with the production of "unsubmergeable" boats in the
1780's A national chain of lifeboat stations, started in the Isle of Man, soon followed,
and in 1854 the National Lifeboat Institution, soon granted the "Royal" title, was founded
which quickly established better rescue co-ordination and welfare measures for crews
and rescued persons.
Mrs Hargreaves described the involvement of lifeboats at the wreck of The Rohilla in
1916, where the Whitby boat had to be manhandled to a safe launching place, and the
use of lifeboats at the Dunkirk evacuation.
An early, sometimes unintentially humorous film showed the importance of training in
seamanship, rescue and first aid techniques. Crews are now voluntary and
part-time, formerly of fishermen, but now from various backgrounds, after the collapse
of the fishing industry. The only full time crew is at Spurn Point at the mouth of the
Humber.
Major rescues draw attention to the lifeboats, but many rescues are caused by careless
holidaymakers underestimating the power of the sea. Funding is entirely voluntary,
with no Government assisstance and comes largely through local RNLI branches of
which Barnoldswick, with an existence of over 80 years, is one of the oldest.
The effort has been worthwhile, as over 191,000 lives have been saved since the RNLI
began. Mrs Hargreaves, quoting the example of the Penlee lifeboat loss, stressed,
however, that it is always a battle of man against the sea. |