As the Lifeboat Station's records show, the early 2 or 3 months of the year are usually and thankfully quiet. To date the station has responded to two emergencies - both attempted suicides - both resolved. Things will change though. Last year we launched 47 times and 12 people are alive now who would not have been without our attentions.

Whilst our readers are trying to get back to sleep after being awoken by our maroons, they might like to ponder on some of the following facts: -

Firstly, the New Brighton Lifeboat Station is operational 24 hours a day for 365 days a year in all weathers. The crew are all volunteers, unpaid except those in the boat and 2 shore crew.... about £5 each which just about covers laundry etc. At least double this number attend and remain until the lifeboat is recovered, refuelled, carefully washed down with detergent and fresh water, tested and re-housed. A good hours unpaid work, often in the middle of the night.

Currently there are 15 qualified seagoing crew - all highly trained and certified in resuscitation, lifesaving, seamanship and navigation. There are 3 tractor drivers and another half dozen beach crew, embryo or ex-crewmen. Crew retire at the age of 45 and sometimes stay on in some shore position or other.

For example, the only persons authorised to approve the launching of the lifeboat are the Hon. Secretary and 2 D.L.A'S (Deputy Launching Authorities).

The Hon. Secretary, despite the title, does not actually take the minutes at meetings but is appointed to be in complete charge of the Station and answers only to Headquarters at Poole. He has at least 2 deputies who are often, but not always, ex crewmembers. These people carry pagers and mobile phones so that the Coastguard, who co-ordinate most emergencies, have instant access to someone in authority. Once one of these officers have been alerted, pagers are activated, maroons fired, and the lifeboat will be afloat in the river in under 10 minutes.

I can remember experiencing an emergency when 2 young boys were cut off by the tide and in danger of being swept away. Police radios, coastguard ingenuity and passing lifeboatmen all melded together to get the lifeboat to these 2 boys in 4 minutes. Yes, 4 minutes. This timing was as recorded by the coastguard voice recorder. The boat saved their bicycles as well. Lucky lads! It goes without saying that this standard of efficiency can only be maintained by constant and relentless exercise and practice.

People insist on a carefully planned and recorded programme of emergency exercises often attended by a District Inspector.

This smooth operation again depends on a host of behind-the-scenes, plus helpers - all unpaid, plus all the Ladies who hold coffee mornings, whist drives, and other money raising activities.

There is also the person who is responsible for looking after and emptying all the Lifeboat boxes adorning the counters in shops and pubs in the district, who then has to count and bank the money.

We also depend on a Chairman, a Treasurer, and a Minutes Secretary and the Committee who attend to the day to day running of the Station.

It takes a large number of people to get a lifeboat into the waters of this river of ours...so sweet dreams.