Sea Patrol UK on C5.
- 18 November 2009 10:1133389There is a very very good series of programmes running on Chanel Five, one of which was shown last night at 8pm. Really is worth watching out for again..it seems last nights programme was no 2 of 6, and the programme is called Sea Patrol UK. It shows the work of all the rescue services in operation in the English Channel and last nights programme partly featured the work of the Dover Lifeboat and crew and very interesting it was too. I myself missed programme 1 but caught up last night and the rest should be well worth seeing.
It is amazing what these rescue services get up too, quite unbelievable when you note that these guys are volunteers. last night it showed the Dover RNLI led by full time Coxswain Stuart Richardson. They were despatched in one instant to fetch a body from beneath the cliffs at Langdon. Not pleasant and not easy to do. The police were on hand beneath the cliffs when the lifeboat crew got there but there was no way the police could get the body up the cliffs. The lifeboat crew had to get the heavy body onto one of those rather small orange inflatable boats...and get it back to the Lifeboat itself. Very tough going and not pleasant. The body had been in the water for three days.
It showed the whole thing in detail, body and all, although close up of the body was fuzzed out.
This picture shows Dover crewmembers Steve Ladner and John Miell returning with the body to the main vessel.
This is a close up of John Miell as featured in the programme.
The operation was directed from the main vessel by Coxswain Stuart Richardson.
Its a tough job and yes indeed someone has to do it. When the crew members got back to Dover the body was taken away by the coroners office and the crew members in the operation were hosed down. Im not sure why the hosing down but maybe someone will let us know.
Would have put this story on the frontpage but pushed for space, as it shows Dover and the RNLI crew in a very good light. They do marvellous but often unpalatable work.email: dover7@msn.com - 18 November 2009 10:3333391Thanks Paul, it is on the recorder to watch later.Been nice knowing you :)
- 18 November 2009 12:2933397That looks like a great series to watch, as the volunteers give up so much of their time for the common good, its amazing the varied amount of work the RNLI do. Thanks for the info
I'm sure that some people think they only rescue seafarers in trouble - 18 November 2009 12:5233398Greatest respect to Steve Ladner, doing his day job on the radio and spending his spare time with both the RNLI and the Fire BridadeBeen nice knowing you :)
- 18 November 2009 13:4933401Watched that episode on-line last night. Excellent programme. The volunteers definately have my respect and gratitude for the work they do.
If anyone missed the first episode or last night's then you can watch it online at http://demand.five.tv/Series.aspx?seriesBaseName=SeaPatrolPhil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!! - 18 November 2009 16:2833404Many thanks for that link there Phil..youre a star for sure.
I recommend that people take a look at it as very interesting from a general view of the rescue services in action but as Dover is featured so well, its most definitely worth a look.
Isnt technology wonderful these days the way we can go online and look at stuff we missed.
email: dover7@msn.com - 18 November 2009 18:1333407I think it will all go that way in the long run PaulB. Analogue TV is in its final days so digital signals will be the norm before long. Whether these signals arrive via satellite, cable or radio (freeview) a computer is still needed in some form to convert them into something viewable.
Scheduled programming may well become a thing of the past. The 6 O'clock News will be available at 6:00 pm, but you can watch it when you like!Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!! - 18 November 2009 18:4433409there are a few channels on freeview that have two slots(one an hour later than the original).
not that many of them are worth watching at any time. - 18 November 2009 18:5333410The R.N.L.I. The fourth emergency service, NOT the AA.Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
- 18 November 2009 20:3133412Ive just had this email through from Martin Collins one of the Press Officers at RNLI and he clearly gives us some very good info there...Many thanks Martin. Well done with that......very grateful for the info as ever.
"
Hi Paul,
Looks good. I've just been having a look and to answer your question about the hosing down of our crewmembers.
Bio security is a serious concern when dealing with anything that concerns bodily fluids and this is one reason for the wash down. However the wash down of any crewmember that has been using a dry suit no matter what the occasion. Salt water is corrosive and so needs to be rinsed off and for this same reason the lifeboat will be scrubbed, washed and rinsed in fresh water every time it comes back from an exercise or emergency. The cold water shower although it might look unpleasant is refreshing and essential considering that the lifeboat volunteer may be going straight back to work. The dry suits are then dried and before going back into use have talcum powder applied to the neck and wrist cuffs to keep them supple and easier to put on and the heavy duty zips are rubbed with wax to help lubricate them.
Colin's comment about us being the fourth emergency service is greatly appreciated but not quite correct. As I understand it an emergency service is defined as one that answers its own 999 calls. The Police, Ambulance and Fire Services all have their own emergency control operators and so the fourth emergency service in Kent would be HM Coastguard. They then have what are called declared assets that they can call upon. The RNLI is one of those resources. To name a few others that might be employed locally include:
RAF SAR Helicopters
Emergency Towing Vessel 'Anglian Monarch'
The volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers
Kent Search and Rescue (Lowland)
Martin
Martin Collins
Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer - Dover
"email: dover7@msn.com - 18 November 2009 20:4933413interesting stuff from martin collins there, would be good if we got some regular bulletins from the RNLI.
everyone appreciates the job that they do, even those of us that never venture to sea other than on a cross channel ferry.
i hope that they do their open day/weekend again next year. - 18 November 2009 23:5233420Nearly fell out of my chair watching episode 1. The last bit was about somebody missing on the cliffs and believed to be contemplating suicide. After several hours the massed resources had been unable to locate him. It was late at night when a call came in from a "vigilant local resident" in St.Margarets who had seen somebody in his back garden. The intruder was standing only two feet from the edge of the 350 foot cliff and turned out to be the man they were looking for.
Cut to the "vigilant local resident" and it turns out to be none other than John Toomey who will be familiar to many on here as the landlord of Blakes in Castle Street for many years!
The footage of John is three minutes before the end.
http://demand.five.tv/Episode.aspx?episodeBaseName=C5144190001 - 19 November 2009 07:5933427Yes, I remember John Toomey, great character - did some great meals upstairs and downstairs at Blakes - now the meals are still good but only downstairs at lunchtime.
Roger - 19 November 2009 09:1333438Ah I remember amiable IrishMan John Twomey in Blakes. Yes he had a warm personality and the greatest collection of whiskey in town. I remember a bit of an early Doverweb gathering for dinner in there and Rick was happy to try the Whiskey collection..I'll have one of those, one of those, and yes maybe one of those...
Bit gutted I missed that original programme but thanks to the links will be able to catch up over the weekend. Thanks for that info Ed re John Twomey. I didnt realise he was still in the district.
So in this instance maybe John T and the Rescue Services saved somebody's life.email: dover7@msn.com - 19 November 2009 11:1333448It was great to have that link Phil, fascinating to see our RNLI in action, these chaps are absolutely amazing!
I remember John Toomey, they were the good ole days at Blakes, Ah! Great food, Great drink and Great Craic!
