2005 News Archive

A look back at 2005 SSILB news.

Hardy bunch give 2005 a very chilly welcome

Three crew members from the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat participated in the 2005 New Years Day Dip.

Summer seemed to long to wait for a group of 21 hardy swimmers - So they got the year off to a refreshing start by plunging into the surf on New Years Day.

The team meet at the Strollers Cafe on the beach between Sandown and Shanklin for a charity sponsored and took to the cold water to raise around £600, which will be split between Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat and the IW Youth bowling club.

At the same time, the Strollers Cafe owners pledged the days profits to the tsunami appeal and held a bucket collection for the cause - which raised £135.

Organiser Bob Jackson, of the Strollers Cafe, said: "The swim went brilliantly and we were lucky with the weather, as it only stopped raining about half an hour before the swim and the heavens opened after we finished.  The majority went right under the water and some where in the water for quite a long time."

The charity swim has become an annual event after the Strollers Cafe opened three years ago.

The Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat was on exercise yesterday afternoon when it was tasked to Dunnose Point to rescue a diver who had fallen over on-board the boat Trojan.

The 38-year-old from Southampton then had to be cut from his dry suit before being transferred by a waiting ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital.

Busy day for crew of lifeboat

10th of June 2005

The crew of the Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat was kept busy last Saturday.

Called out four times, they conducted a successful coastal sweep for a woman threatening self-harm.

The woman who met Police description, was spotted on cliffs at Sandown Bay and was taken to St Mary's Hospital.

Answering a distress call from the 42ft yacht 'Misty', a three-man crew was saved in the bay between Sandown Pier and Culver Cliff.

The Vessel had lost all battery power and had slipped on its anchor, after a rope tangled with the propeller and jammed the rudder.

Sandown and Shanklin Lifeboat stood by until Bembridge Lifeboat arrived to tow the yacht back to Gosport.

The crew also rescued a rower who overturned his boat.  The boat and man were brought back to shore.

Later that day a small vessel was towed back to Shanklin after it ran out of fuel.

LIFEBOAT CREW FLOATS ON THE WEB

4th July 2005

A team of Island lifesavers have launched a new website.

The crew of Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat are keeping people up to date with their heroics, thanks to the internet. 

The new site is at www.sandownlifeboat.com and offers information about the team as well as advice on cutting the danger posed by the sea.  

Full Emergency Call-out sparked by empty boats

5th of August 2005

Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat is calling on the public to get in touch, when unattended inflatable boats and lilos are swept out to sea by the wind.

The call follows an incident on Wednesday when Bembridge coastguard, the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat and the coastguard helicopter were scrambled after a report of two inflatable boats - possible with children involved - were spotted drifting in Sandown bay.

The helicopter spotted the inflatable's and both were retrieved by Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

 With no children to be seen, a search begun, but the owners came forward and said that there was no-one on the boats when they drifted away.

Mark Birch, of Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat, said : "We would like to send a message out to the general public from all the units involved, that when an inflatable is taken away by the wind, to notify the lifeguards or coastguard please"

Spotted in trouble off shore

23rd of September, 2005

A BELGIAN windsurfer, who had been staying on the Island, was rescued after he got into difficulties a quarter of a mile off Yaverland beach on Thursday afternoon last week.

A Ryde man who saw the windsurfer fall into the sea but not reappear, raised the alarm at about 4:30pm.

Bembridge Coastguard's mobile unit, assisted by Coastguard rescue helicopter India Juliet and the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat, went to the windsurfers assistance.

Bembridge Coastguard Station Officer Jim Roberts said: "The fact that a member of the public reported the problem allowed us to recover him before cold and exhaustion became serious for him.   In such circumstances, the public should always let the Coastguard know by ringing 999".

Corrie star in lifeboat appeal

12th of November, 2005

Bruce Jones, left, who plays Les Battersby in Coronation Street, with auctioneer Mark Mitchell, raising funds for the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore lifeboat at the Fairway Holiday Park.

Coronation Street star Bruce Jones, who plays Less Battersby, helped raise plenty of smiles and cash for an Island lifeboat at a charity auction on Saturday the 12th of November.

It was the second year he had travelled to the Island to take part in the Fairway Holiday Park auction in Sandown, in support of the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

The lifeboat, which is not funded by the RNLI, is entirely reliant on donations and this year's auction raised an essential £5,000.

Great Live performances from local artist where among the events of the appeal night.

The cash, along with thousands raised last year, will go towards plans to develop the lifeboat station.

Organiser and holiday park owner Chris Williams said: "Bruce does not have a particular connection with Sandown, but I know him as a friend and he has been very supportive of the lifeboat.  He uses the auction as a chance to take a bit of a holiday and he has already booked a slot in his calendar to do it again next year".

"I run a flying school at the IW Airport, Sandown, and fly helicopters over the water all the time - it's nice to know that if there's an accident, there will be a lifeboat there to get me out."

All the crew at Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat would like to greatly thank the Fairway Holiday Park staff, Bruce Jones, Mark Mitchell for the great night and support given to the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

Thank You For Your Great Support.

Crowd on Sandown sea front for Remembrance Day service

13th of November, 2005

A wreath was laid at sea as well as land at Sandown's Remembrance Day service, which was attended by more than 500 people.

The service at the seafront war memorial was organised by Sandown Town Council and was led by the Rev Chris Feak, Vicar of St John's Church and Christchurch.

A parade led by the Medina Marching Band marched to the Esplanade via the town centre, accompanied by members of Ryde Sea Cadets, including Able Cadet, James Hiscock, Able Cadet Antony Maretic, Ordinary Cadet Lauren Sheaf and Ordinary Cadet Chelsea Ward, who stood to attention at each corner of the war memorial.

The Exhortation was read by Cllr Ian Ward with Kohima Epitaph read by former Wren and lay reader Joan Smith, 82.

The start of the two minutes' silence was marked by a maroon fired from Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Rescue's RIB and afterwards the crew laid a wreath on the water in memory of those lost at sea.

The Last Post and Reveille were played by the Medina Marching Band Bugler, Luke Blackley, 16, who went on to play in the afternoon at Gurnard's service.

After the seafront ceremony an inter-denominational service was held at St John's Church, organised by the Churches Together.

Hymns were played by Sandown and Shanklin Military Band and the service was taken by Mr Feak.

Engine failed

16th of December, 2005

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat was called out in failing light to assist a fishing vessel with two people on board, three miles south-east of Sandown Bay.

The Lady Hamilton, which suffered engine failure, was restarted and she was escorted back to Langstone Harbour on Saturday afternoon (10th December 2005).