This in from George at Cowes RNLI, in his own words. Ed
The Island’s High Sheriff, Susie Sheldon, was invited to take part in a double celebration involving Cowes RNLI lifeboat, first presenting Casualty Care certificates to 18 lifeboat members and then presiding over the presentation of a cheque towards the appeal for the new lifeboat station.
Welcoming the High Sheriff to the ceremony, at the Island Sailing Club, were the chairman of the lifeboat station’s management group, David Hembury, and operations manager Mark Southwell.
Intensive course
Referring to the Casualty Care course based at the lifeboat’s present station in Shepards Wharf Marina, Mark said, “It was quite an intensive one. Those taking part had to attend eight sessions totalling 20 hours over a two week period – followed by more time for a final assessment. And I was delighted that all 18 managed to qualify.
“They had learned how to treat a casualty on a boat and then how best to deal with their evacuation to land or to a hovering helicopter.
“Considering the sessions came on top of their working day and their domestic lives, this course amply demonstrated the commitment of our volunteers to their life-saving role.”
He added that the participants had nothing but praise for the instructor involved, an RNLI professional from Poole, Jenny Forsythe.
Over £1,000 presented
The cheque, amounting to £1,085.50p, represented the profit from a dinner and a two-hour concert of popular jazz and swing at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club.
The jazz band comprised the Island’s Leon Simmonds Trio plus two high-profile musicians from the mainland: Alan Barnes and Julian Marc Stringle.
Anna Morgan Crockett, chairman of Cowes RNLI Guild, received the cheque from local jazz enthusiast and concert organiser, Willie Sanderson, who indicated he might organise a similar event for the station next year.
