| On the 4th July 2019, both Anstruther's lifeboats were launched and, together with local boats, put to sea to welcome home the historic fishing boat "Reaper" returning from a refit in Rosyth. Reaper is a "Fifie" sailing herring drifter, part of the Scottish Fisheries Museum. She was built by J & G Forbes at their yard at Sandhaven near Fraserburgh in 1902, Fifie was the most popular fishing boat design on the East Coast of Scotland during the 19th and 20th century. She is usually moored opposite the RNLI boat shed. The Museum, their boats and the lifeboat station are major attractions for visitors to Anstruther. Click/tap Jim McNair's video opposite to see the highlights of the well-attended event. | |
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Some pictures of the boats during the Anstruther fireworks display. Click on the pictures to zoom Volunteers at Anstruther Lifeboat Station have received their brand new Helly Hansen lifeboat crew kit to help keep them safe, warm and dry when they’re out saving lives at sea. Pictures by Roger Grundy. Click to view the full pictures The new all-weather lifeboat crew kit being rolled out to all 128 of the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat stations across the UK and Ireland is supplied by Helly Hansen as part of their strategic partnership with the RNLI.
The new kit is lighter, more comfortable and designed to allow greater freedom of movement than the kit it is replacing and it will ensure the charity’s volunteer crew members have the very best kit to wear when they go out to sea in all weathers. Specially designed with the RNLI to ensure it meets the demanding needs of its volunteer crews, the new kit uses state of the art waterproof and breathable Helly Tech fabric which provides increased comfort compared to the previous non-breathable fabric of the old kit. The light but strong kit is reinforced for exposed areas and its technical layering system ensures crew members will keep warm and dry while out at sea. The kit comes in a wide range of sizes and has bespoke designs to fit both male and female crew members, unlike the kit it is replacing. The new bib, mid-layer and base-layer garments have a specific fit for female crew members, enabling better comfort and freedom of movement. Roy Giles, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Anstruther, says ‘We are delighted with the new kit. Being protected from the elements is as every bit important as the boats and training. We cannot function and carry out our duties if we get too cold and this kit is perfectly designed to overcome this.’ As part of the strategic partnership with the RNLI, Helly Hansen has committed to supporting the RNLI for the next five years through a variety of life-saving activities. These include delivering drowning prevention messages to their customers, generating income, supporting fundraising and safety campaigns, product innovation and supplying the very best kit to the RNLI’s lifesavers.
The episode, on Tuesday 18 September,saw Anstruther RNLI attend a walker who has fallen on a coastal chain walk and a woman, child and two dogs that have been cut off by the tide in Anstruther alongside rescue stories from their colleagues at other stations around our coasts.
Following the huge success of the two previous series, the most recent of which was broadcast last year, this series features more real-life rescue footage, accompanied by heart-warming and emotive testimonials from the volunteer crews, lifeguards and the people they rescue and their families. Filming took place over the past year, with lifeboat crews and lifeguards carrying special cameras and welcoming film-makers into their day-to-day life. Rescues from the RNLI’s archives are also revisited, and we get a glimpse into the everyday lives of the thousands of men and women who give up their time to save lives. Last year alone, RNLI lifeboat crews around the UK and Ireland launched over 8,400 times, assisting over 8,000 people, while the charity’s lifeguards responded to 17,414 incidents and saved the lives of 127 people on some of the UK’s busiest beaches. Saving Lives at Sea will be broadcast on BBC Two and will continue throughout September and October. Belinda & James a young (at heart) retired couple from London arrived at Anstruther, their 45th stop, on Tuesday 28 August as part of their RNLI 911 Challenge. Click/tap the pictures to enlarge them
As much as George and his fellow crew members enjoyed helping Brian safely back to Anstruther, the serious nature of what the RNLI do cannot be forgotten. If you are in difficulty, please contact the Coastguard, just like Brian did and request assistance from the assets we have available. Unlike Brian, you will not lose family bragging rights and have additional chores as payback for our help. |
