Joint Exercise with Gravesend and Sea King 125

Sunday morning 19/5/13


Its not every Sunday morning that we get the opportunity to Exercise with not only our flank station Gravesend or Sea King 125 - let alone both at the same time!
And so it was on 19th May that our very good friends at Wattisham informed us that they could be in the area if we could get together a crew for a lifting scenario of a casualty with a broken leg from a floating vessel.
The Atlantic 75 played the part of the casualty vessel and Gravesend and Southend ILB2 were the 'RNLI' and observation platform for the combined Ex.
The Exercise ended with a formatting drill with the Helo running into the Easterly wind with the Lifeboats tracking underneath.
All in all an extemely big ask of my 300mm lens but a fantastic opportunity for all the crews involved.
If you want a much closer look at a Helo Ex make sure you come along to our Open Day. More pics to follow soon.

Southend Lifeboat Open Day

Saturday 1st June from Midday to 17:00hrs

This year our Open Day will be even more special than usual as this will probably be one of the last opportunities to see the RAF Sea king with the Lifeboats of Southend station.
We have worked alongside the aircrews from RAF Wattisham for years and I can't tell you the relief that knowing Rescue 125 was on her way often gave to Lifeboat crew.
More than just aerial support, the professionalism with which they deliver their support time after time is something we will not forget.
The skill we have seen from pilots -hoovering over soft mud in order to allow a casualty to board and the medical skill we have witnessed from the winchman are attributes that will be hard to follow.
So do come along on Saturday 1st June about 4pm. The best picture taken will be shown on the website for a week.
If you can't make the Saturday we will be open Sunday as well.

Southend Lifeboat Ready for Action

The station is beginning to buzz now. It doesn't matter what day of the week you put your head in - you meet someone different every time!
Many of us for years now have been doing the various paperwork which goes into keeping a Lifeboat station afloat at home. Slowly these jobs are being done more and more on station, which can only be a good thing.
It means others can see just what is going on which is just what a volunteer station the size of Southend needs.

Pier Shop Tree

Ruth's Christmas Tree Still Going Strong

Visitors to the Pierhead RNLI Shop will be greeted by an unusual sight for this time of year. Our Christmas tree refuses to give up the ghost and so it has now been redecorated outside the shop as the Easter 'Joshua' Tree by Shop Manager Ruth. Surely must be the first Easter Tree in the country.