2004 News Archive
A look back at 2004 SSILB news.
CHILLY BOOST FOR CHARITIES
7th of January 2004
FOURTEEN swimmers braved the elements at Sandown Bay and raised a cool £600 in the process.
Ten dippers were sponsored for the second annual New Year's Day event and this
year were joined by four who did it just for "fun".
The swim, in the freezing sea off the revetment, was organised by Bob and Margo
Jackson, who own Strollers Cafe and who opened the doors of their business to
provide swimmers with mugs of warming hot chocolate.
Sponsorship cash will be split between the bay's inshore lifeboat and the junior
bowling section at Ryde's LA Bowl, where Mr and Mrs Jackson's 15-year-old
daughter, Sarah, is under-18 Island champion.
Mrs Jackson said: "There was a fantastic atmosphere and quite a crowd of people
watched and cheered and donated a total of £84. It is growing into quite an
annual event."
Meanwhile, fundraisers made a splash on New Year's Day by taking a dip at
Ventnor in aid of a local special school.
A group of ten people, ranging from the school nurse to Island athletes Bryony
and Kathryn Frost, took part in the sponsored swim in aid of Medina House
School.
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Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat chairman Ron Teasdale, right, and Coxswain Mark Birch, centre, receive the £1,500 cheque from Peter Haynes, chairman of Sandown District Tourism Association. Looking on from the Atlantic 21 are fundraisers and crew members of Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat. |
23rd of April 2004
Cash boost
for lifeboat Businesses from Sandown Bay gave a boost to the lifesavers at the weekend by donating £1,500 to the area's Inshore Lifeboat. As one of the Island's four independent lifeboats, the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat relies on donations to operate. The cash from the Sandown District Tourism Association was a welcome gift ahead of the busy summer season according to Coxswain Mark Birch. Mr Birch said the money would be used to buy essential equipment, such as dry suits and lifejackets.
"All
independent lifeboats struggle to raise enough money to keep going.
We are an IW charity and any money that comes to us stays on the
Island and this helps the Islanders," Said Mr Birch. |
18th of June 2004
Pontoon drifting towards the channel
Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat was called to secure a 70ft long pontoon drifting in Sandown Bay.
The pontoon had dragged its anchor and was drifting towards Culver and could have found its way into the main shipping lane in the channel if it had not been secured by the lifeboat crew.
The lifeboat took it in tow on Thursday evening last week (10th June 2004) to a bay location sheltered from the winds, which were gusting to Force 7 and attached a larger anchor.
9th of July 2004
Visitor rescued from cliff ledge
Sandown Bay was buzzing with activity on Tuesday (6th of July) when lifeguards and rescue services were called to two separate incidents along the coast.
A man was rescued after a Shanklin lifeguard noticed he was trapped by the rising tide on a ledge at Dunnose Point while a Sandown lifeguard helped the family of a 92-year-old woman after she suffered a suspected stroke.
Lifeguard Nigel Dix explained what happened at Shanklin.
"I was doing a sweep with my binoculars when I saw a spot of white in the distance, well over a mile away. I called the coastguard who looked with powerful binoculars and confirmed someone was trapped there. We immediately radioed Sandown Inshore Rescue, who sent a boat out to pick him up."
The visitor, from London, landed safely at Sandown and none the worse for his ordeal.
Nigel continued "It was a stroke of luck that I saw him there at all, but I think the holiday maker was very please to be off that ledge."
Mr Dix started his job in May (2004) and plans to move the the United States later this year (2004), where he hopes to become a lifeguard California.
1st of October 2004
Injury halts marathon walker
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Injury forced a walker to abandon his attempt to tramp around the Island just 12 miles from reaching his goal. Chris Welsford, 40, of Dudley Road, Ventnor, who started his attempt at 4am on Saturday at Ventnor Cascades, was on schedule to complete the distance by midnight the same day, when the pain got to much at Bembridge after 15 hours walking. For five miles Mr Welsford had been in increasing discomfort from ligament injuries and shine splints to both legs. Cliff rescue volunteer coastguard Mr Welsford said: "I was walking increasingly stiff-legged. A swelling under the skin the size of a golf ball came up on my right leg and my left leg was also affected." "I'm told that it will take three weeks or so to fully recover. While it was a disappointment, it certainly has not put me off and I will tackle it again." "I am sure the injuries were caused by the slippery clay at Thorness and slippery conditions at Ryde, which were caused by rain." Despite not completing the entire 72 mile route, mostly coastal path, Mr Welsford estimates his efforts will raise £2,000 in sponsorship for Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat. Mr Welsford said: "The lifeboat faces operational costs of £10,000 each year and needs to invest £7,000 each year for equipment renewal. I concentrated my effort on raising money for the lifeboat, Marie Curie and the cerebral palsy charity, Scope." For 40 miles of his walk, he was accompanied by 16 year old cliff rescuer Paul Berry, his training partner for much of the six months' preparation, which earlier in the month culminated in a 30 mile Ventnor to Yarmouth walk. |
Chris Welsford putting his best foot forward before injury hit and stopped his charity walk.
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19th of November 2004
Ship's Company Bids Farewell
Bugler, Malcolm Knapp, 17, at Sandown parade.
The crew of the decommissioned mine hunter HMS Sandown, given the freedom of Sandown in 1996, was bade a fond farewell by the people of Sandown at the towns Remembrance Day service.
More than 500 people, the most in recent memory, took part in the Sandown remembrance service at the seafront war memorial on Sunday.
The service, organised by Sandown Town Council, was led by the minister of Sandown Methodist Church, the Reverent Antony Oakley, and Joan Smith, on behalf of St Johns Church Sandown.
A parade led by Medina Marching Band, marched to the Esplanade war memorial from Culver Parade via the town centre.
Around 25 of the crew, of the HMS Sandown, which has enjoyed strange links with the town since 1988, were the guests of honour at the parade and service.
Ryde Sea Cadets, under the command of Lt Eric Goode, which also had close ties with HMS Sandown throughout its service, joined the crew of the minesweeper.
Wreaths were laid for many organisations. Former Wren Joan Smith, 81, of Grove Road, Sandown, recited the Exhortation.
Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Rescue fired a maroon from it's RIB offshore to mark the start of the two minute silence.
The crew also laid a wreath on the sea.
Medina Marching Band provided the bugler, 17 year old Malcolm Knapp, who played The Last Post and Reveille.
A service at the Baptist Church followed the wreath laying.
A large congregation attended a community service led by licensed reader Nigel Cox.
Sandown & Shanklin Town band led the hymns.
Following the service, the crew of HMS Sandown and other guests were invited for lunch at the Broadway Centre, Sandown, hosted by Sandown Town Council.
10th of December 2004
Season of giving for Lifeboat
From left to right: Some of the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat crew, Mark Adam-Rose, Dave Bridgen, Mike Downes, Sue Sheer, Mark Birch and the Stag Inn's Leigh White, Gerry White and Tina Brodie.
A Cheque for more than £670 was presented to Mark Birch , Vice-chairman and coxswain of the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore lifeboat.
The money was raised from a sponsored beard shave, an auction of gifts, services at the Stag Inn at Lake donated by local villagers and businesses.
Mr Birch said: "The money will go on general running costs, it will also help with training costs and towards new equipment. We are very grateful for the donation, as we are an independent station providing a service for this area".
The presentation was held on Sandown beach, Gerry and Leigh White the pub owners and Tina Brodie, the manageress and licensee, hope to raise more money for the station next year.
23rd of December 2004
Soap star helps keep lifeboat afloat
From left to right: Mark Birch, vice-chairman & a coxswain of Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat, Sandown holiday park owner Chris Williams, Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat chairman Ron Teasdale and Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat secretary Susan Sheer.
There was a buoyant response to the appeal to keep Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat afloat, culminating in a charity night hosted by Coronation Street actor Bruce Jones, who plays Les Battersby.
More than 300 people attended the recent fund raising event at the Fairway Holiday Park at Sandown, which raised over £7,500, topped up to £8,000 by owner Chris Williams.
Throughout the year supporters have been raising money through raffles and collections with the charity night as the final, where there were over 150 raffle prizes donated by Island businesses and people.
Organisers said they were extremely fortunate to have Bruce host the auction and provide excellent entertainment.
Items auctioned included a set of snooker balls from the World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association, signed by world champions, which went for £2,450, a return flight to Guernsey, helicopter flight around the Island, a Manchester City football shirt signed by all the players and manager.
Vice-Chairman and coxswain Mark Birch said: "The money from this event will go towards the new extension to the station. There are big thank yous, due to everyone who helped this happen and in particular to Chris Williams and his team of staff who worked very hard to make this work."
