Picture Gallery

Mark Sawyer, Coxswain of Eastbourne RNLI’s

All Weather lifeboat (ALB) has been presented with a commemorative badge to mark 20 years

of continuous service.

Mark collecting badge from Operations Manager Paul Metcalfe.

Mark officially joined Eastbourne RNLI in September 1990 as a volunteer shorehelper but was ever present before that time, helping wherever he could (or was allowed to by senior crew). He quickly progressed and became a full crewmember of the inshore lifeboat (ILB) then the ALB in 1993. He was made second coxswain in 1999 and promoted to coxswain in November 2001.

During his lifeboat career Mark has received seven awards for outstanding service, the most significant being an RNLI silver medal for his “outstanding seamanship, tremendous courage and fine leadership” during the rescue of two persons aboard the yacht ‘Paperchase’ which had foundered on rocks whilst approaching Sovereign Harbour during a gale in 2003.

Mark’s dedication to saving lives at sea also extends into his private life. He voluntarily conducts sea safety training for local boat owners; visits local schools with sea safety advice and has founded a sea training school for people who require more formal boating qualifications.

The proprietors of the Marine Parade Hotel Eastbourne Jerome and Carol Farrow along with their family visited the RNLI Eastbourne Lifeboat Station to present a magnificent Christmas gift in the form of a donation for £2457.20.

As very keen supporters of Eastbourne Lifeboat they hold weekly raffles with guests at the hotel to raise the money. During the past two years they have donated more than £7000 to the RNLI here in Eastbourne.

Eastbourne Lifeboat Operations Manager Paul Metcalfe thanked them on behalf of the RNLI and commented “every penny we receive is crucial to our lifesaving work and without supporters like you we could not continue. All donations to the RNLI Eastbourne Lifeboats are used for the costs in the saving of life at sea off the Sussex Coast”.

Eastbourne Lifeboat crews braved the artic conditions on Sunday to carry out their normal training.

All Weather Boat on mooring in Sovereign Harbour

Mark Sawyer (All Weather Boat Coxswain) braves the cold

Paul Rogers was the star of the exercise by ‘volunteering’

to be Man over board casualty!”

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Mark Chessell has been presented with his Long Service Badge in recognition of over 20 years continuous voluntary service to Eastbourne RNLI.

During this month’s crew meeting at Eastbourne RNLI’s all weather lifeboat station, volunteer crewman and second mechanic Mark Chessell was presented with a Long Service Badge and letter of thanks signed by RNLI chief executive Paul Boissier. Mark first volunteered as a 17 year old in 1987 and was officially registered as a crew member in 1990. In those days both boats were launched from the beach at Fisherman’s Green. He has served on all the inshore and all-weather lifeboats associated with Eastbourne in that period and attended literally hundreds of callouts. In 1997 he was presented with a ‘Framed letter of Appreciation’ from the chairman of the institution for his participation in a late night medal winning service under Eastbourne Pier. He was also involved in the flood relief operation at Lewes and Uckfield in 2000. His father was both station Hon. Sec. and shorehelper and Mark has always enjoyed the support of his entire family even when his pager has gone off at the most inconvenient of times. Affectionately regarded on station, his colleagues look forward to the next 20 years in Mark’s company.

Photo shows Mark receiving his award from Operations Manager Paul Metcalfe

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Eastbourne RNLI shorehelper Rodney Gygax who retired recently has been presented with a Certificate of Service to mark over 19 years voluntary service.

Rodney joined Eastbourne RNLI in 1990 as a volunteer shore helper for the all-weather ‘Rother’ class lifeboat ‘Duke of Kent’ which was stationed at what is now the inshore lifeboat station at Fisherman’s Green. In those days the lifeboat was launched and recovered from the beach. When the new ‘Mersey’ class lifeboat “The Royal Thames came on station in 1993 the all-weather lifeboat relocated to the newly opened Sovereign Harbour and Rodney continued his service there, taking responsibility for refueling operations.

In presenting his Certificate of Service, signed by RNLI Chairman Admiral the Lord Boyce and RNLI Chief Executive Paul Boissier, Paul Metcalfe Eastbourne Operations Manager, paid tribute to Rodney’s contribution to the station and remarked that his humour, long stories and welcoming cup of tea following a lengthy service call will be greatly missed by the entire crew.

Rodney and his wife Margaret have always been great supporters of the fundraising activities associated with Eastbourne Lifeboats and all at the Station wish them both a long and happy retirement together.

Lifeboats, camera, action – Eastbourne lifeboat volunteer triumphs in the RNLI Photographer of the Year

Date: 07/01/2011

Author: Tim Ash, Divisional Media Relations Manager

A lifeboat supporter who volunteers as the press officer for Eastbourne RNLI lifeboat station is among the winners of the charity’s annual Photographer of the Year competition.

Bob Jeffery, volunteer press officer for Eastbourne RNLI’s two lifeboats, has won the ‘rescues’ category of the annual competition, which recognises people’s skills in capturing the drama of the lifesaving work the RNLI carries out.

Bob’s photograph captures volunteer lifeboat crew members assisting the crew of a yacht which was sinking four miles offshore from Sovereign Harbour, just east of the town. Both the all-weather lifeboat and the smaller inshore lifeboat launched during the Eastbourne RNLI Regatta last summer after the two persons on board made a ‘pan pan’ distress call.

Bob was announced as one of the winners of the competition today, Friday 7 January, at the Tullet Prebon London International Boat Show at the city’s Excel centre. He said: ‘I am delighted to have been chosen as one of the winners in the competition. The photograph I took captures a dramatic scene during one of our rescues last year, during our busy annual regatta. The all-weather lifeboat was actually moored up and had visitors onboard looking around, but as soon as the call came in we escorted them off and launched within minutes.’

The vessel, an eight-metre, three-hulled sailing vessel known as a ‘trimaran’, had suffered damage to one of the outer hulls and was rapidly taking on water. As it was listing severely and in danger of capsizing, coxswain Mark Sawyer transferred two of his crew, along with a powerful salvage pump, to the stricken vessel. At the same time a grateful crewmember (along with the family dog) was taken aboard the all-weather lifeboat. However, pumping out the flooded hull was untenable in the sea conditions and the vessel was slowly towed back to harbour.

Bob said: ‘The volunteer lifeboat crews are wholly professional and are accustomed to all manner of emergencies at sea. It isn’t always possible to show people what goes on miles off the shore but when there is an opportunity to capture moments with a camera it really brings home their dedication to saving lives at sea.’

The RNLI’s Photographer of the Year competition aims to find pictures that reflect the lifesaving work of the RNLI. Volunteers and crew send in pictures to compete in four categories; rescues, people, fleet and landscapes. The overall winner is picked from the winners of each category.

The All Weather Lifeboat passes the Cargo Ship (Espada 1 registered Valletta) sheltering from the storm in Eastbourne Bay.

Sunday 11th October

Sunday morning exercise with the Coastguard helicopter.

        photo taken from the shore            photo taken from the helicopter.

click here to see video taken from helicopter

by Richard Larmour using a mobile telephone.

Local schoolboy pedals for the RNLI

Local schoolboy 11 year old Huw Curry, having decided he wanted to raise funds for his favourite charity the RNLI, set about organising sponsorship for himself to cycle 15K round Eastbourne with his Dad.

Huw, a pupil of Ocklynge School, bullied teachers and friends to contribute to the fund which eventually totalled £150. Huw with mum Sandra and dad, also called Huw, visited Eastbourne all-weather lifeboat station on Sunday to meet some of the crew and to present the money, which will be used to help run the station, to station mechanic Dan Guy and Operations Manager Paul Metcalf.

In receiving the cash Paul congratulated Huw for his magnificent effort and hoped that he may return one day in the future to complete his Duke of Edinburgh award and maybe even join the volunteer crew.

Monday 14th September 2009.

A RAF Chinook helicopter from RAF Odiam in Hampshire visited Eastbourne today to conduct a training exercise with both the Eastbourne Lifeboats.

A series of winching exercises were carried out off the Eastbourne seafront to give both the Lifeboat crews and helicopter crews valuable training in different types of winching operations. Both Lifeboats carried out into wind and downwind transfers using the helicopters winch man as a casualty.

The chinook landed on several occasions at Sovereign harbour to allow for a swap round in pilots and winch man. The exercise lasted for two hours giving everyone the chance to enhance there skills both on the water & in the air.  

The capsize boat.

As part of the on going training for the Inshore Lifeboat Crew,

they have to train in re- righting an upturned ILB.

Sunday mornings exercise:-

Inshore Lifeboat at Airbourne 2007

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Eastbourne inshore lifeboat mud rescue exercise with Eastbourne Coastguard.

(see other pictures in PICTURE GALLERY)

Read about Captain John Banfields award from RNLI on the News and events page.

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The Inshore Lifeboat Crew at 999 weekend

Both Eastbourne lifeboats on exercise

with "Whiskey Bravo" the Coastguard Helicopter

at the 999 show.

Spot the people in the sea

Dan with a new engine

August 2007

Pictures of Eastbourne Lifeboats on exercise with India Juliet the Coastguard Helicoptor.2007

Friday's Airbourne

Each year the crews of the All Weather Lifeboat and the Inshore Lifeboat stand by at sea in case of an emergency.

Mark Sawyer, the Eastbourne Lifeboat Coxswain, has arranged for the Belgian helicopter to exercise with the Eastbourne lifeboat each day of the Airbourne Show.

This weekend will be a busy weekend for boating as a large number of boats from Sovereign Harbour and visitors from Newhaven and Brighton come to see the Airbourne Show.

Picture taken Peter Needham whilst covering the Airbourne

in the Inshore Lifeboat

The Eastbourne All Weather Lifeboat on exercise with a Belgian Search and Rescue Helicopter.

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Pictures from the

999 show

Sunday 30th July.

ILB training exercise setting off parachute flares.  

The Eastbourne Lifeboats

help two Ratton school leavers win first prize for the best transport to

the School Leavers Prom

The ALB arrives at the seafront

    with the celebrities

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The RNLI awards Mathew Brown

of The Eastbourne Herald

On Friday 23rd June at the Eastbourne Lifeboat Station Mathew was presented with a framed award by Mark Sawyer Coxswain of the Eastbourne Lifeboat for his support and coverage in the Eastbourne Herald in 2005.

Photographs of an exercise with Newhaven Lifeboat on sunday 23rd April 2006

The Royal Thames returns from refit

Wednesday 15/3/2006

Saturday 4th February 2006 The Edward Robert being towed into Sovereign Harbour

	Sunday 29th January exercise with India Juliet the Coastguard helicopter

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14TH DECEMBER2005 UPTURNED HULL OF A BELGIAN FISHING VESSEL (NOORDSTER)		14TH DECEMBER 2005 ILB FOLLOWING ALB 11 MILES SOUTH OF BEACHY HEAD

Pictures taken from Royal Sovereign Tower october 2005

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Pictures taken whilst on exercese 17th February 2008

ILB transfering crewmember to ALB at high speed

Picture taken by Mark Chessell

Sunday 9th August 2009.

Following a four week First Aid training program for all Lifeboat Crew members, Mark Sawyer the Coxswain of Eastbourne Lifeboats arranged a first hand exercise with the Coastguard Tug (Anglian Monarch).

Various scenarios were staged, three casualties were put into different parts of the vessel and the Lifeboat Crews had to assist the casualties and give first aid.

Pictures taken at the 999 Emergency Services Display

photo taken by D. Needham ILB Helmsman.

photo taken by Jim Edwards

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A group of RAF personal from RAF Marham in Norfolk were taking part in a force development plan called operation Mary Rose which consisted of walking the south downs way from Winchester to Eastbourne. A group of twenty personal consisting of all ranks and trades concluded the walk with a visit to the Eastbourne lifeboat station where they took part in an exercise afloat with both the all weather and inshore lifeboats in addition an RAF seaking helicopter from RAF Wattisham conducted a winching exercise from both lifeboats.

Registered charity number 209603