PAST EVENTS 2008

12th Clacton Scouts visit the Lifeboat on Thursday 5th June 2008.

On Thursday evening the 12th Clacton Scouts visited our station with there leader Alan Moss. They were all shown around the boat to see how a lifeboat is used to save lives at sea. We also would like to thank Allan for raising lots of money for the station with his running & other fundraising events that take place with Chapman's the Butchers on the Triangle. THANKS.

Presentation of Awards at film show evening.

Thanks to all who attended the film show at the Martello Camp which raised over £700.00. At this event there was a number of awards presented by Phil Oxley (Operations Manager), to the fundraising team for their long service & hard work to the Walton &Frinton Lifeboat. From left to right, Helen Stokes (letter of thanks) Sue Barrow (letter of thanks) Val Kemp (silver badge) Wally Strange (statuette) & Dennis Kelly (silver badge).

John Oxley retirement & Bob Kemp receives Statuette for long service.

Last year John Oxley retired from the lifeboat after -- years service. At a presentation evening at the yacht club he was presented with a letter of thanks from the RNLI, a clock & barometer was given to him from all the crew. Later that evening ex-Coxswain Bob Kemp received a statuette from the RNLI for 50 years service to the RNLI.

PAST EVENTS 2007

Memorial Service for RFA Sir Galahad

On Friday 8^th June a brief memorial service was held off Walton Pier on the 25^th anniversary of the loss of the RFA Sir Galahad during the Falklands War. The RFA Sir Galahad was bombed by Argentinean aircraft at Bluff Cove, with the loss of 50 lives, the majority of them Welsh Guardsmen. After the end of the war an appeal organised by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Welsh Guards raised over £500,000 to fund a Tyne class lifeboat, which was named RFA Sir Galahad and stationed at Tenby in South Wales in 1986. This lifeboat was replaced in 2006 by a new Tamar class lifeboat and is currently on relief duty at Walton whilst the station lifeboat is undergoing refit. At 1pm the RFA Sir Galahad left her berth with Canon J C Riddellsdell on board and held a short service just off the pier head. After the dropping of a wreath by Coxswain Gary Edwards, the firing of a maroon indicated the start of a minute’s silence. Also on board the lifeboat was Simon Millyard, the RNLI District Manager, who had been on board Sir Tristram, the sister vessel to Sir Galahad during the Argentinean attack.

Sea Cadets Visit Lifeboat

Over the past few weeks we have been taking Sea Cadets from our local unit (T S Illustrious) out on the lifeboat The cadets were shown round & taught all about modern day life boating with the hope of becoming new crew members in the future on the last night we had a guest Mr Ivan Henderson who was our previous MP

Open Day up Pier

Another good turn out for our open day despite the weather being overcast. Also during the day we had a helicopter exercise where some of the crew were winched up onto Sea King 125. Thanks to all for your support during collecting week.

Saturday 13^th May

A great night was had by all dancing to the big band sounds on our 40s night.
Many of the guests were dressed up in 40s style costume getting into the spirit
of things, with a rations dinner held during the evening.
See if you recognise some of the crew maybe the 2^nd coxswain or Asst mechanic.
Thanks to all who attended & supported this evening.
Thanks also to the hard work of our Ladies Guild for this wonderful evening.

Remembance day parade

A good turn out for our local Remembrance Day Parade, with every one marching through the town to the remembrance gardens, where a service was held with 2 minute silence.

Carnval Day

A great turn out for this year’s carnival procession with the weather being very warm. People lined the way parting with some of there money as well.

We had our Y-Class Lifeboat decorated in bunting & flags being towed by our station tractor, with the crew & shore helpers cycling alongside on the bikes. All had a great day.

Friday 19th August.

Surprise 80th Birthday Present for Retired Lifeboatman

Retired Walton lifeboatman Ken Haggis had a surprise 80th birthday present on Friday 19th August. Unknown to him his sons had arranged a trip on the lifeboat with all of the surviving crew members who had gone to sea with Ken since he joined the crew just after World War II. Ken’s ex-colleagues boarded the lifeboat first and went into the wheelhouse out of sight as Ken, accompanied by his brother and sister-in-law who were visiting from NewZealand, boarded the lifeboat. The lifeboat then took Ken and the other retired lifeboatmen on a short run, which everyone enjoyed despite the heavy rain and un-seasonal weather. Ken who was boat signalman took part in many dramatic rescues including the Merak, Radio Caroline and Ypapanti.

Sunday 7th August

Fun Day

A great day was had by all once again at our annual fun day that was held by the Ladies Guild at the Walton & Frinton yacht club. The weather was very kind to us. There was lots going on throughout the day including duck race, boat race, raffle, plate smashing, crabbing contest, dingy race and of course the bbq manned by the crew, until 12:33 when the pagers sounded, all the crew raced off leaving the cooking to the ladies. The crew returned at about 14:30 just in time to clear up. Many thanks for every ones support.

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Monday 18th July 05

Visit of RNLI Chairman Sir Jock Slater

The chairman of the RNLI Trustees, Admiral Sir Jock Slater visited the station as part of a tour of lifeboat stations in East Anglia on Monday 18th July. Upon his arrival at the Lifeboat House he met the crew, shore helpers, committee and voluntary fundraiser's before signing the visitor’s book. Sir Jock met a former shipmate, Assistant Mechanic Kevin Bruce having served under Sir Jock on HMS Illustrious. After answering questions concerning RNLI developments Sir Jock went to view the new lifeboat berth, the intention being for him to go on exercise with the lifeboat & crew. This however was not to be as the lifeboat was called out on a mayday from a yacht sinking, just as the crew were arriving at the berth. Sir Jock accompanied the crew on the rescue & was picked up from Brightlingsea, where the yacht was towed to by the lifeboat, details of which can be found under Call outs.