Shelley the Lifeboat Labrador Read online

  A big thank you comes from all the crews to these branches that do so much to raise funds; ‘we can’t do it without you.’ On one occasion the fundraisers for the lifeboat which is situated in Brighton Marina decided to have a sponsored walk towing a small fishing boat from the marina to Hove lagoon and back; a total of about 10 miles in all. It was agreed that the Mayor of Brighton would start the event and we would tow him in the boat along with some Brighton and Hove Albion football players and other well known guests that would join in as we went along the coast. Shelley had no intention of missing out on this.

  The idea was to attach ropes around the hull of the boat that was situated on a trailer and we would tow in two teams of six people either side with a little assistance from behind when we had to negotiate a slope. The weather was excellent as we set off from the marina. There would also be collectors walking on either side of the road with their collecting buckets so no one would be missed out and other funds would be thrown into the boat.

  The Mayor loved it and as he owned a hotel on the seafront decided to stay on board until we got there arranging for some liquid refreshments to be available for us as we went past. Needless to say once opening time arrived more refreshments were added. It is surprising what one can get when one wears a crew jumper!

  I recall a story I heard about a crew in Cornwall who had a regular local they used. In the summer the resort was a popular place for tourists so they decided to wear their jumpers back to front. It seemed that this was an ideal way to get the odd drink as the original jumpers were long dark blue with the logo R.N.L.I written across the front. By putting the jumper on back to front the logo was visible to those that came into the bar. The opportunity often arose that people liked to find out about the local lifeboat so in seeing a jumper approached the person wearing it with an offer of a drink and an opportunity to chat. Of course an offer not to be refused! Several of us tried this for a while but sadly it did not work as well. Perhaps Shoreham did not have the same attractions as one of the Cornish fishing villages.

  Shelley in the meantime had her work load increased when someone thought of the bright idea of making a harness out of rope with a collecting box placed each side of her and a few stickers that adorned her head and collar. She loved it but had to be kept on the lead due to the traffic and the knowledge that the sea was a few feet away. Can you image her last being seen swimming out to sea with two collecting boxes attached to her. She was very popular and there was no shortage of walkers for her. The Mayor invited her into the boat so that was a real bonus. A little later she was presented with several packets of crisps by him to keep her amused.

  The football players turned up and I have to admit I did not know any of them although there was a lot of interest from the spectators and there was no doubt that their attendance did increase the funds. We all got invited to a football match later and were given the opportunity to collect funds at the ground which was a great success. It was the first and last time I ever visited a football ground. We cant all like the same thing!

  When we reached Hove Lagoon we had a short break and Shelley went for her swim (some memories must have come back from when she lived in Hove). There were some refreshments laid on by the local branch for us and another pub had provided some drinks. It became one of those situations where looking forward to the return journey it seemed as though it would be a lot longer. Not deterred by this we set off having lost one or two of our supporters en route.

  The weather by now had become very hot and the footballers had departed to their favourite wine bar in Hove and the Mayor back to his hotel so it was the staunch supporters that carried on. I have to admit that the decision to do a return journey was a little foolhardy and it did take a lot longer than we thought. There was one advantage though, more holiday makers along the prom which meant more funds for the RNLI. Shelley was doing a great job still carrying her two collection boxes which had been emptied twice and she did not seem tired. It must be remembered that she had now reached the age of 9. She had a few grey hairs around her mouth and a few more bumps and lumps but nothing seemed to deter her much.

  We managed to get back to the marina by about 3-30pm. The next day we did get some nice publicity in the newspapers, though I have to say that most centred on the Mayor. There were more pictures of the football team members than the hard working RNLI crews and supporters; sadly a sign of the times. We had done very well, it seemed, and raised a lot of funds for the New Brighton lifeboat station that was going to be situated at the marina entrance.

  Fund raising did sometimes have its advantages as was the case when the crew was invited to visit a pub to help open a large bottle full of money. A couple of drivers were elected to take the other members along so some could at least have a drink, or the wives assisted. Most of these evenings ran along the same lines, a drink when one arrived then the elected senior crew member gave a short chat to the gathered locals and guests. This was followed by more drinks and a general dispersal amongst those present. Then the bottle was placed on its side and the head knocked off with a hammer and the contents emptied out onto a cloth. Counting then commenced and it always amazed me just how much money a large whiskey bottle contained. Counting was followed by a raffle where the prize went to the person who had guessed closest to the amount raised. The raffle money also goes to the RNLI and without fail there is always one person who says that he would like to round the amount off to the nearest hundred with a personal donation and yet another round of drinks for the crew. We did not even have to wear our jumpers back to front!

  These were always fun evenings and it was often the case there was a shout back at the lifeboat so we missed out on that. There always had to be enough crew back in Shoreham in case this happened, so those that went to these functions were the more social members! I always tried to take Shelley as she got plenty of attention and did help raise funds by performing her crisp opening trick.

  Another time we went to a pub in Brighton only to find it was full of drag artists – we had to laugh – mind you it really was a fun evening and they got up to some outrageous antics. One could say that having a broad mind did help - with us all getting involved with the spirit of the evening both drink and fun wise. They raised a great deal of money and we later invited some of them for a trip on the lifeboat. From time to time we did take those that helped and supported us out for a trip. If there was a call whilst out there we tried to drop them off somewhere or they had to enjoy the shout with us. It was one of the hazards of accepting our kind offer.

  I was still seeing Brenda and she came with me to several of the crew dinners and functions that were held. Lifeboat crews do enjoy a good social life and it is all in the interest of raising funds for the station. There was the annual dance which was held at the local community centre followed by those that wanted to going onto another crew member’s house for a few more drinks.

  Brenda as I said earlier had become a very good friend of mine and we were looked on as a partnership. The age difference was about 16 years between us, her being older which was good as she kept her eye on me. She was pleased with my association with the lifeboat and felt it was good for me supporting me whenever she could at events associated with it.

  The crew dinner was always excellent entertainment with specially invited guests and I recall on one occasion Princes Alexandra attending one. Thanks to Lady Mary her lady in waiting; it again was one of those low key affairs that was kept under wraps. This way it did not involve the local council members so making the evening a truly memorable and enjoyable event without all the fuss that can sometimes happen when a member of the Royal Family is present. Not only that she chatted to us all knowing many of us - even asking after Shelley!

  Next day I remember getting a phone call early one morning from a very agitated Harry asking me to pop up to his house. On arrival he took me down to the foot of his garden and to my surprise there was a Spaniel dog with several puppies. He was not sure what to do with them.
A call to the RSPC and they were taken away and their owner was found. He was a local vicar who had lost her several days before. The RSPCA reckon she must have been in the garden for a while until she had given birth. All were re-united and lived happily ever after. Harry was offered one of the puppies for company but he declined preferred to meet up with his pal Shelley as and when he could.

  I got involved on one call by accident and that was when a large coaster had got into trouble near Newhaven. I arrived at the boathouse early following the maroons going off and proceeded to open the boathouse doors. As I was doing this the crew arrived. Being short of crew, Coxswain Ken Everard, asked me to get ready and get on board. I was very much taken by surprise but did as requested and we launched down the slipway out of the harbour into a very rough sea with winds gusting force 11. It took a while to get down to the stricken vessel and in the meantime Newhaven Lifeboat had launched as well the Newhaven tug. A line was eventually put onto the vessel by the tug after we had tried several times in a very confused sea and she was towed away from the cliffs to a safer area. We were at sea for several hours and eventually went into Newhaven to change crews which included me. I escorted Geoff Tugwell to hospital in an ambulance as he had knocked his head badly. Getting back to the boathouse eventually in the early hours where we waited for the lifeboat to return. It was felt Geoff should have a night in hospital so an eye could be kept on him!

  On reflection it was a call that a more experienced crew member should have been chosen, but time was important and we had to launch. I have to admit I did not enjoy it and it was perhaps the worst experience I have ever had on a boat to this day. It was very rough indeed, it was night and the seas were over the lifeboat a lot. On board we were being thrown all over the place with water coming into the wheelhouse and going out the other side. We did get a letter of appreciation from the RNLI for what we did. I could have done better but once again Ken Everard said to me “John you must remember when I asked you went and there was no apprehension – you did a good job and that is what I expected of you and why I asked you on board.”

  I got back to my flat early that morning a little battered and tired and was greeted by Shelley like a long lost child. For some reason she was a lot more protective to me that morning than she had been before. Perhaps she had been concerned for my safety. Not being married I now know how some of the crews wives must have felt when their other halves took to sea. On the lifeboat that evening we were unaware that several of the crew and their wives had been looking at us below the Newhaven cliffs having driven along from Shoreham.

  Like any organisation crew members did pass away and we always made sure they had a good send off. The coffin was always draped with the RNLI flag and selected pallbearers carried the coffin – these were nearly always the closest friends or family of the deceased. They were moving occasions with lots of memories and some nice words always said. This was then followed by a visit to a family member’s house or to the Yacht club where there was always a mini wake. Tradition is so much part of the RNLI and that is what makes it stand out over many other organisations. People do not often realise that it is a charity and all are volunteers. I like many, would dread to think what would happen if it was run by a Government department. I am glad to say this is not the case nor, I hope, will it ever be.

  End of Chapter 24

  GROWING A LITTLE BIT OLDER – CHAPTER 25

  Growing older is an option in life we all have to face and for dogs their life span is a lot shorter than ours, seven years in a dog’s life is equal to one of ours meaning Shelley was in her late sixties. Mind you she did not show it and was very active indeed.

  We were both invited to Bob McGowan’s 40th party in Bodiam which was an opportunity not to be missed. Bob as I mentioned earlier was one of the Daily Express senior staff reporters and we had become good friends. Bob’s wife Pauline had put a lot of effort in planning the party.

  The party was being held at Bob’s house which was way out in the country and a lot of people were invited. Graham was still alive then and I stayed over with him and Sally. We arrived (Shelley included) and were made very welcome at their house. As was normal our arrival was later rather than earlier at the party due to the detour beforehand to several pubs which Graham insisted on. The party was in full flow and there were a lot of Bob’s Fleet Street colleagues which gave me the opportunity to meet some of the top names that filled the papers with its images and stories.

  In a funny way I think Bob was a little worried about the home front turning up as they could be a little riotous and one never knew what to expect. I am glad to say initial worries were overcome and all went well. Shelley had a brief wander then went into the kitchen where she fell asleep woken from time to time by ‘The Rolling Stones’ at full volume who happened to be Bobs favourite group.

  About 11-30 a police car arrived and a female officer came to the door with two male officers and asked to see the person running the event as there had been a complaint regarding car parking! All seemed fine until the female officer proceeded to take her clothes off and do a strip-o-gram in front of Bob. It had been booked by his colleagues in London. It was one of those acts that had a bit of class rather than the coarseness that some others have. Bob is very outgoing and accepted it in his stride (but I did notice a little embarrassment).

  He went to the Falklands to cover the conflict for The Daily Express sailing down with the Parachute Regiment spending the duration of the war there. His stories were sent back to the U.K under difficult circumstances to the newspaper on a regular basis. Not many reporters were there to cover the events so it became a bit of a journalistic conflict within itself trying to get the features to the relevant papers. I remember sitting with him one evening listening to just what happened. He also had this large trunk full of all his press cuttings and photographs along with a massive collection of Zippo Lighters. The name Max Hastings was not allowed to be mentioned in his house as a result of some news gathering incidents in the Falklands.

  When back home he sat down with colleague Jeremy Hands and wrote the best selling book ‘Don’t Cry for Me Sergeant Major’ followed up by its sequel ‘Try Not to Laugh Sergeant Major’. The initial book was about the conflict and centred on the Parachute Regiment. It was full of harrowing stories yet managed to contain an element of humour which gave it the advantage over other books written on the subject at the time. The follow up book was on life with the Parachute regiment following the conflict back in the U.K.

  The party went on until the early hours and we all departed in good spirit having enjoyed some excellent food, drink and good company. It did however amuse me later when Bob phoned me and asked for some pictures from the party. It appears that one of the top photographers from the Express had a few drinks too many and his images were not up to scratch. Mine were to be Bob’s reminder of the evening! It was also to become my career later in life which at the time I was unaware of.

  Next day we all met up again at lunch time for more fun in one of the local pubs resulting in Shelley and I having to stay over yet another night. Good intentions go amiss when in the Bodiam area.

  I had, for many years, been trying to get them to visit Shoreham and one day I had a call from Bob to say that they would be coming for a drive to Brighton with Graham and would meet me at my flat. I was looking forward to it but with some apprehension. They said they would be there at 4pm. It was more like 7pm when they arrived having stopped for liquid refreshment in Brighton. I had laid on some food for them and a few bottles of good wine. However; the pub beckoned so we went there for three hours returning back to my flat where they then decided to eat. Graham was in one of his fun moods and was about to throw my television out of the window when Sally suggested it was not a good idea. (For some reason Graham had a love of doing this or pretending to). All eventually went to plan and they left about 1 a.m. having calmed down a little. I did feel sorry for Sally having to drive them back!

  I went to bed happy, but
in the morning when I woke up was horrified to find sickly foam all over the bedroom floor and continuing into the lounge and kitchen. Unbeknown to me, my guests had given Shelley a few items of food in the kitchen. In one of money saving moods I had purchased a large bag of sugar (which I had left on the kitchen work surface) and somehow or other Shelley had managed to get at this and chew her way into the contents. Together, this unusual combination of diet items had caused her to throw up all over the place. She was far from well and a call to the vets was made and I was advised to give her lots and lots of water. It took three days for her to get back to normal during which time she felt very sorry for herself.

  Animals will always look for food where they can and this in the past had been a problem for Shelley when on the beach. Dead seagulls and fish were not a problem as far as she was concerned and it was something I had to live with.

  Chris Fox and I were invited to Frome in Somerset one weekend by a friend of mine Sam Mitchell whom I had known for a while having met her when she was a nurse in the navy based at Plymouth. There was going to be a do held at Longleat in aid of the RNLI and she thought it would be nice if we both went down as crew members wearing the relevant gear.