RNLI Lifeboats - Dover Harbour Life Boat July 2010

[colinb]

Dover Harbour Life Boat June 2010

photographically speaking not a great picture but I thought Lee might like to hear the story behind it.

Our late father wished that his ashes should be spread on the English Channel, he was a Dunkirk Veteran and as our mother died some 12 years previous we approached the RNLI to see if they could help us to do this. We were pleasantly surprise to receive an offer from them giving the three us the opportunity to be present during a training run which would go 2/3 miles offshore where they would then stop the engine and let us perform a small service and spread the ashes on the water. Although we were warned if a call for help was received we would most likely have to remain on board for the duration of the ‘call-out’ everything went smoothly and even the sea was fairly calm. Once back on-shore they invited us into their boat house for a tea or coffee and gave us the details of the exact spot and a reference point on the white cliffs that we could use to view where we laid our father to rest.

Our family is very grateful to the RNLI and the Dover Lifeboat Crew who were very helpful and gave their time to enable us respect our fathers wishes.

[KateW]

A touching story, and what a lovely gesture by the RNLI.

[Heather]

what a lovely thing for them to help you do to often things these days are wrapped up in red tape and health and safety issues and noone will put themselves out. Its so refreshing to hear about these kind of situations where people put themselves out for others

[annie]

lovely story...and a lovely pic to go with it...

[Denis]

What a good thing to do for your family Colin. As Heather said, these days of 'elf n safety' usually put paid to things like this.

Glad it all worked out.

[Guest Lee]

Colin - Thanks very much for the story, very touching indeed. The lifeboat, judging by the number, is the Roger and Joy Freeman which is on the Reserve Fleet which probably means the usual lifeboat is in for repairs; when we visited this year they had a Reserve Fleet boat there.

[Kobione]

Colin, would you beleive that we watched an episode of Sea Patrol UK, only the other night, and that was exactly the focus of the show. They did the same! Don't know if it was the Dover patrol that were involved, but it was very moving. What a special memory for you and yours.

[colinb]

thank you all for the kind replies and in case there are any H&S nuts reading this thread the RNLI informed us about suitable clothing and footwear and at no time did we feel 'unsafe'. Even when they needed to test the engine at speed they made sure we were all ok ( and crikey did it shift!).

Kobione - I shall have to keep an eye on the UK tv channels to see if we get a repeat of that series/programme

[Guest]

what a touching story and a nice picture to go with it