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William Cantrell Ashley was the New Quay
lifeboat from 1907 to 1948, and was the last sailing
lifeboat in the RNLI. After retirement from the lifeboat
service, it went to the Outward Bound Sea School at
Aberdovey where it was renamed 'Outward Bound'.
The new boathouse was built in 1992 to
accommodate the Mersey class life boat 'Frank
and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge'.
New
Quay Lifeboat Station News:
A recruitment
drive to boost the number of volunteers working behind
the scenes to ensure the safe launch and recovery of New
Quay’s RNLI lifeboats is underway. Each time the lifeboat
launches, an army of shore helpers is hard at work ensuring
the volunteer RNLI crew can safely take to the sea.
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The appeal for more
volunteers comes at a time when the Ceredigion station
is ringing in the changes. This Friday (6 March) marks
the end of an era for New Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations
Manager Albert Moller who will hand over his pager after
ten dedicated years at the helm.
Taking over the
responsibility of authorising the launch of New Quay’s
RNLI lifeboats and taking control of the everyday
running of the station is current Head Launcher Roger
Couch. The new appointment will mean Roger, who joined
the RNLI in 2003, will be hanging up his high visibility
vest for the very last time this week. This will add to
the shortage of launchers at the station and leaves New
Quay with a need for more hands at the sharp end. |
Roger says:
‘Without the people who get the lifeboats into the water, or
away to sea, it would take far longer to react to emergency
calls. The shore helpers have a crucial part to play in the
launching of a lifeboat, but they don’t just launch the
lifeboats for emergencies, they also turn up for exercises.
I became a shore helper at New Quay in 2003 and progressed
to become Head Launcher.
‘I am looking forward to assuming the post of Lifeboat
Operations Manager and the new challenges it will bring.
Being part of the shore team is extremely rewarding and you
get a real buzz at the end of a rescue operation, knowing
that you played a part in bringing someone to safety and
sometimes saved their lives. There is an atmosphere of real
comradeship and a satisfaction from contributing to local
community life'.
New Quay is home to an inshore D-class lifeboat and an
all-weather Mersey class lifeboat. Last year the all-weather
lifeboat launched 17 times and rescued 26 people, whilst the
D-class lifeboat launched 12 times and rescued five people.
Shore launchers need to live within a ten-minute journey of
the station and there is no reason why young recruits cannot
progress to becoming lifeboat crew members.
Albert Moller, joined the RNLI as Deputy Launch Authority in
1998 and progressed to Lifeboat Operations Manger in June
2003. He says the role of Lifeboat Operations Manager has
become much busier over the years, with more people taking
to the seas for recreation.
‘With a greater variety of water based activities and better
equipment, people are visiting the seaside throughout the
year and there is an increased demand on the RNLI’s
services. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time volunteering
with the RNLI and will miss working with such a great team
of people.
‘I would recommend joining the RNLI to anyone, it is a
fantastic organisation and there is plenty of excitement! I
hope people will answer our plea to become part of the team.
I also wish Roger, the shore and lifeboat crews and the fund
raising team every success in the future'.
Anyone interested in volunteering with the RNLI at New Quay
should contact Roger on 01545 560311 or mobile number
07941 146185
Following its letter of thanks from RNLI Operations
Director Michael Vlasto for its action last October in
recovering a body from rocks at the foot of a cliff,
the New Quay volunteer lifeboat crew has received
further commendation from him.This
time it resulted from the crew's action in going to
the assistance on a Saturday last September of the
yacht Galasma in difficulty through engine
failure some 20 miles north of New Quay.
Conditions were severe with poor visibility and
rough seas and a fierce northerly Force 9 gale. Having
taken the yacht in tow the crew made for Aberystwyth
but were informed that access to the harbour was
impossible because of the weather.
At this stage, the Pwllheli lifeboat was launched
to rendezvous with the New Quay boat and, after a
tricky manouvre, the tow line was successfully
transferred and the yacht taken to Pwllheli.
Despite the conditions, New Quay crew member Hanna
Nuuttila managed to take the photograph which won the
RNLI Photograph of the Year competition.
Michael Vlasto wrote, " This was a challenging and
arduous service and the seamanship and teamwork
demonstrated by Coxswain Potter and his crew were of
the highest order. Please thank them all on my behalf.
Well done, all of you!"
New Quay RNLI
volunteer snaps up top prize in national photography
competition
The Royal National Lifeboat
Institution has announced the winner of The RNLI
Photographer and Film-maker of the Year competition 2008.
The title of RNLI Photographer of the Year (2008) has been
awarded to Hanna Nuuttila, volunteer crew member at New Quay
lifeboat station in West Wales.
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Hanna’s
winning image shows Pwllheli Mersey class all-weather
lifeboat,which came to the aid of the 35-foot sailing
yacht, Galasma, in force nine severe gales, high waves
and poor visibility. The rescue was a long and arduous
one for the volunteer lifeboat crews aboard New Quay and
Pwllheli all-weather lifeboats.
Click here to see the photo and read about the rescue
- the winning photo is the second from the left, .
Now in its third year, the RNLI
Photographer of the Year competition was developed to
document the rescue work of the lifesaving charity.
Entries to the competition have been submitted by RNLI
volunteer lifeboat crew members and RNLI lifeguards from
around the coast of the UK and Ireland. |
RNLI NEW QUAY HOST ANOTHER
SUCCESSFUL OPEN DAY
The RNLI's Open Day at New Quay on Sunday, 3rd August ,
opened by Radio Wales presenter Oliver Hides, took place
in bright sunshine and attracted numerous visitors.
They were entertained to a masterful display of handling
the inshore lifeboat in a simulated rescue and were able
to tour the boathouse and view the displays which had
been set out. There were a number of attractions for the
younger visitors, including Stormy Sam seen in the
picture, a popular face painting stand and a Treasure
Hunt, while the refreshment stall courtesy of the Fund
Raising team and the burger bar were as busy as ever.
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Albert Moller, Lifeboat
Operations Manager, said, "I was very pleased with the
public response on Sunday. It shows that our service to
the local area is appreciated and the financial response
of those who attended was also much appreciated as the
cost of training and equipping our crews is enormous. We
do not receive any finance from central or local
government and rely on donations, fund raising events
and legacies for all our income. We also appreciated the
time on his day off and keen interest which Oliver Hides
took in our station".
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SEA SUNDAY SERVICE
The Sea Sunday Service was
held in the RNLI boathouse on the 13th of July, 2008.
The service was conducted by the Rev. Hew Gregory Smith,
and readings were given by Glyn Griffiths and Roger
Couch. Over 70 people attended including many visitors
to New Quay.
Refreshments were provided by the Ladies of the
fundraising committee. The venue proved a fitting
location for the service dedicated to sea farer's and
the lifeboat rescue crew |
BUSY TIME FOR NEW QUAY RNLI IN REGATTA WEEK
The first few days of New Quay's Regatta Week were characterised by moderate to rough seas and a blustery force 5 northerly wind which caused some incidents along the local coast and call outs for the RNLI lifeboats.
On Tuesday, August 21st, both boats were called to Llangrannog at 6.25pm by reports of people in difficulty in the sea. On arrival they found one woman in severe difficulty who was initially taken on board the inshore lifeboat and then transferred to the all weather boat from which she was winched into the
Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley and taken to Bronglais Hospital.
On the following day at 12.25pm the inshore lifeboat was called outside the harbour wall in New Quay to rescue a 23 foot yacht which had drifted on to the rocks through engine failure. The yacht was towed to safety into the harbour and there were no casualties.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Albert Moller commented, "Our volunteer crews responded in an exemplary manner and carried out both rescues very competently in tricky wind and sea conditions".
New
Quay RNLI sets up new Management Group
The RNLI, in facing the challenges of the 21st century, has requested that
all its lifeboat stations set up a more formal management structure.
The local committee in New Quay has been formed to co-ordinate all RNLI
activities in the locality to maintain a sound link between the lifeboat
station and the local community, including the media. It also gives support
and guidance to the specialist teams responsible for running all the RNLI
services in the area.. The committee meets quarterly and will also hold an
annual general meeting to which members of the public are invited.
| Pictured at the station before the latest quarterly meeting are, from left
to right, Roger Couch (Administration Officer), Pam Tomkins (Chairperson Fundraising Team), Richard
Bourne (Sea Safety Officer),
Dr. Julian Evans (Chairman), Albert Moller
(Operations Manager), Alun Griffiths (Treasurer) and Glyn Griffiths (Press
Officer). Sue Wood (Sales Secretary) was unable to attend. |
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Safety
at Sea
At this time of year, Richard Bourne, a retired master mariner, is busy in his capacity as the New Quay RNLI sea safety adviser telling people how to avoid disasters in their boats and on the beach.
The RNLI offers free and impartial advice on all aspects of safety at sea with a view to making people more alert to the possible dangers. The sea can be a hazardous environment but a few basic precautions can make all the difference.
Sea Check is a voluntary, free and confidential service for boat owners. All aspects of safety are covered, including lifejackets, flares communications equipment and fire extinguishers and certain insurance companies will look favourably at those who take advantage of this check. Leaflets outlining sea check contacts are available from the local harbourmaster offices.
Various other sea safety publications aimed at boat owners stress the importance of engine reliability checks, maintaining adequate fuel levels and giving notice of forthcoming trips, their destination and expected return landing times
A further key element is to raise awareness among young people and their parents regarding the hazards of inflatable toys and dinghies. The local shops selling these items also stock safety pamphlets issued by the Coastguard, whose contents should be followed.
The RNLI website - rnli.org.uk - publishes details of its safety publications, including a safety CD and an interactive CD-ROM as well as lots more interesting material about the RNLI and its work.
CASUALTY RETURNS TO THANK LIFEBOAT CREW
Gareth Griffiths seriously injured in a climbing accident in August 1994 inside Target rock near New Quay returned to the Lifeboat Station on Saturday to thank some of those who were involved in his dramatic rescue.
Gareth was climbing on Target rock in the afternoon of the 19th of August 1994 when he fell sustaining a very serious compound fracture to his right leg.
He also was concussed and suffered serious head injuries.
On regaining consciousness he managed to alert the attention of a nearby dog walker who alerted the Coast Guard. They immediately called on the Lifeboat to assist with the recovery since they were unable to gain access to Gareth in any reasonable time frame.
New Quay inshore lifeboat was launched with Dan Potter as helmsman and crewmembers Carl Thould and Jamie
Britten, fortunately all the crew had recently received specific training on dealing with compound leg fractures. They were able to put this knowledge to good use.
Gareth’s surgeon was delighted to find that the way in which Gareth’s leg had been immobilised enabled him to treat Gareth who would have probably lost his leg and now has no discernable problems with his leg whatsoever.
As a thank you to the Lifeboat crew at New Quay, Gareth competed in the New Forest marathon last year and raised over £ 100. With his sponsorship he was able to purchase a set of Marine navigation charts of the Solent area, which will be used to familiarise New Quay trainee crew before they attend training courses at the National Training base at Poole. He also purchased a training aid for navigation.
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The photo shows the presentation of the Charts by Gareth Griffiths to Albert Moller, Lifeboat
Operations Manager. Also in the picture are left to
right: Roger Couch Head Launcher
Mervyn Thomas Deputy Launching Authority
Vince Thomas Deputy Launching Authority
Daniel Potter Coxswain
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Fundraising
Committee Day
out at Tenby
The New Quay Lifeboat Fundraising Committee enjoyed a wonderful day out
arranged by their Publicity Officer Alan Tomkins to Tenby Boat House to view both the Boat House and the Tamar Lifeboat.
Roger Couch the station LTC both arranged and drove a mini bus to transport 14 members of the fundraising committee from New Quay to Tenby via Narbeth where the female members enjoyed a little retail therapy.
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Before their visit to the boathouse lunch was enjoyed at the Mews Bistro moving to the lifeboat station early in the afternoon. They were given a truly VIP reception and taken around the new station and the Tamar Boat by Station Mechanic Steve Lowe and Tenby LTC Bob James. Such was the attention to all the details of the boat and its workings that the fundraisers left with renewed enthusiasm for the task of raising as much money in the coming year as humanly possible for the benefit of the RNLI.
The New Quay fundraisers are
shown in the photo on the stern of Tenby's Tamar
Lifeboat |
Fundraising Events:
Saturday May 31st - Fundraising
Dinner - 4 course quality meal - Venue Crows Nest Yacht Club
New Quay
7-30 pm Cost £12-50 - Entrance by ticket only available from
Tel 01545 560530
Friday 25th July - Cheese and Wine evening with Charity
Auction - Venue New Quay Boat House - Time 7-30 pm
Sunday July 13th, 11-00 Hrs -Sea Sunday
Service conducted by the Rev. Hew Gregory Smith at the
New Quay Boathouse
Refreshments at noon - collection to be shared between the
RNLI and the Mission to Seafarers. Please bring your own
seating if required. Thursday 28th August - Gwmanfa Ganu - New Quay
Tabernacle
OPEN DOORS AT NEW QUAY RNLI A GREAT SUCCESS
Several hundred people visited the RNLI boathouse at New Quay on Sunday
5th August to view the lifeboat service behind the scenes and take part in its Open Day activities. Wellie wanging, treasure hunting and face painting were a great success and the inshore lifeboat demonstration proved to be an absorbing spectacle. The refreshment stalls were very popular as usual with barbecued beefburgers and hot dogs selling well beyond "closing time".
The Operations and Fund Raising teams amassed £534, which will go towards the "Train One Save Many" campaign. The money raised included £61.50 contributed by seven year old Chloe Fullerton from Telford in
Shropshire. Having visited New Quay on holiday last year she was so impressed by the lifeboat station that she and her mother held a cake baking and selling day to raise the money which she donated this week.
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Chloe Fullerton aged seven from Telford pictured with her parents after handing in a donation of £61.50 raised from a cake cooking and selling day which she recently held on behalf of the RNLI at New Quay |
In the front is Lauren who won the girls section of the wellie wanging competition and behind her are the Lewis team, winners of the Treasure Hunt. |
As always, the barbecue burger bar proved to be very popular |
Dr Julian Evans, Chairman of the New Quay RNLI Management Committee said, "I wish to give a big thank you to all those who turned up to support us and to the members of the crew and Fundraising Committee who worked hard to create such a brilliant Open Day. The RNLI is a charity which depends entirely on donations and fundraising so that it can perform the invaluable service of saving lives at sea".
MUSICAL EVENING AT
NEW QUAY TABERNACLE - Thursday 28th June at the New Quay Tabernacle where they managed to fill the building with supporters.
They were treated to a wonderful evening of entertainment provided by the girls of Llandovery college Chamber Choir, supported by Local artists Rhiannon Davies from Cardigan, Doreen Lewis of Aberaeron and Mike Brown of Llandysul.
The undoubted stars of the show were the children of New Quay and Llanarth Junior Schools who joined together and sang their hearts out to ensure that everyone enjoyed the evening.
Over £ 1000.00 was raised for the RNLI and particular thanks must go to Margot Griffiths for organising such a wonderful event for the second year.
Click here
for recent Lifeboat
Services
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