In the Community: An Interview with Runswick Bay Rescue Boat
Runswick Bay Rescue Boat is a familiar organisation to the people of Runswick Bay and surrounding areas and one which so many are grateful exists. The work they do is invaluable, but they rely on donations and fundraising efforts from the public to be able to continue.
We recently interviewed Jo*, Treasurer at RBRB, to help raise awareness of the work they do and demonstrate how crucial it is that donations continue.
*Throughout this interview, Jo makes multiple references to information written by Ginny Whittaker specifically for RBRB.
Runswick Bay Rescue Boat
Hi Jo, thanks for taking time out to speak with us.
Tell us a little bit about Runswick Bay Rescue Boat.
Sure. RBRB as we are coined, is an association set up to support the RNLI and HM Coastguard with preventing and responding to incidents in the water or onshore that are visible from the village. We also from time-to-time support with incidents that are in difficult to access locations along the shoreline where larger boats would struggle.
Our association is registered as an independent registered charity, meaning we are funded entirely by donations, fundraising efforts of the local community and occasional grants. All of our committee and the crew here are volunteers. Without their kindness we wouldnât be able to operate.
And, how about where it all begin?
Until the late 1970s, Runswick Bay was the location of a RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) lifeboat station and in fact, the old lifeboat house is a very distinctive feature of the village still. The Runswick Bay Rescue Boat (RBRB) was formed in 1982 after this RNLI station was closed & the nearest RNLI station was moved further up the coast to Staithes. The last RNLI boat to be stationed at Runswick Bay, The Royal Thames, left the village in 1978 as it became increasingly difficult to crew a large boat without the help and support of men and women from the neighbouring village of Staithes.
One of the factors which lead to the birth of the Runswick Bay Rescue Boat was an incident which lives on in several peopleâs memory. One glorious summers evening, a family comprising Grandfather, Father and two young sons set to sea on a pleasure trip in a small dinghy. Luckily, they went well prepared with life jackets but little else to sustain them on what was to be a gruelling trip to sea that evening. They were expected home for tea around five oâclock but by seven had not returned to shore and alarm was raised in the village. A member of our team who was a serving police officer, interviewed the mother of the two boys to establish identities, descriptions and relevant details which could be passed on to the coastguard and lifeboat crews. As night fell concerns were raised and a group of us reported the incident and later watched through the night as the RNLI lifeboats from Staithes and Whitby quartered the bay with flares and promised a helicopter at first light.
In the early hours of the morning the sea swell had become considerable as had our concerns for the vessel and its crew. Constant vigilance with binoculars from the cockpit continued hour after hour into the pre-dawn silence when a shout went up âI think I can see somethingâ. We all tried to get a pinpoint on what or where the something was and none of us could confirm a definite sighting. Edward Clay was heard to say, âIâm going to launchâ and duly set forth with other volunteers in his families trusty Dory Speedboat into the dark and lumpy sea and away from our sight. There were no personal radios or mobile telephones then, so we duly waited for his return anxiously watching the heave of the sea for sign of life. Eventually we heard the Doryâs engine over the roar of the sea and as they came into view could see a small boat being towed behind with two adults clearly visible in the rescued boat. The children were laid in the bottom of the boat covered with whatever was available to keep them dry and warm. Hot water bottles and blankets were there to greet them as was their family, who were relieved to see them brought safely back ashore. The skipper of the boat had engine failure but had after some time very sensibly tied on to a Dan end (lobster pot rope) which had prevented them drifting further towards Lingrow rocks and being wrecked.
It was during this night that necessity for an inshore rescue boat in the village became a consideration and together with many other villagers and people associated with the village and after several meetings we decided to raise funds to establish a boat in the bay.
Wow. You must be proud of the work RBRB have in the community since this incident?
Absolutely. I couldnât tell you how many scenarios weâve prevented becoming very severe because we were able to respond so rapidly by being in the village.
The work our volunteers do is invaluable. Many times, Iâve watched the crews practicing in sometimes very cold and inclement weather or setting to sea when required even in the depths of Januaryâs icy claws. They all fully commit themselves to their roles too. The recent rescue boat crews have trained extensively and are now acknowledged by the RNLI and the coastguard and carry out joint exercises with them to further improve their skills.
In addition to the rescue work we do; I also feel we bring the community together a little bit with our fundraising events. The Annual Beef Dinner for example is a hot date in the calendar for many. We also have the Annual RunswicK Bay Rescue Boat Flag Weekend, which takes place around the start of August each year. People attend from all over to find out more about us, join in the fun and make donations to our charity. Itâs a good laugh but itâs a vital fundraising event for us.
I would personally like to thank each and every person who has donated or worked towards and within this cause as it is very dear to my heart.
How crucial do you think it is that Runswick Bay has its own rescue team?
Extremely. Firstly, itâs a very popular destination for tourists, particularly in the summer months. Though, even in the colder months we get a lot of dog walkers and walkers in general visiting. Itâs also along the Cleveland Way, which is a popular route for walkers. With so many people regularly visiting, coupled with the fact the sea can be a bit wild and the area is very cliffy, itâs crucial to have a response team able to react quickly in my opinion.
What is something that not many people would know about RBRB?
I think probably the fact that all of our boats are blessed. We hold a ceremony in which the Reverand comes along to bless the boat. Itâs a special occasion which is often well attended by the community. We actually have a recording on our website of the blessing ceremony for our most recent boat, The Spirt of Nagar.
How many boats have you had before Spirit of Nagar?
Through much kindness and hard work, weâve been able to raise funds for seven new boats after our first âClaymoorâ which was launched forty years ago in 1982 and was in service until 1985. Since then, weâve had:
The Christine Appleton in service from 1986 to 1991
The Lady Normandy in service from 1992 to 2000
Enita Margaret in service from 2000 to 2006
Spirit of Runswick in service from 2007 to 2020
Spirit II in service from 2011 to 2014
Freebird Fojt in service from 2015 to 2020
And of course, our current boat Spirit of Nagar, which has been in service from 2020.
Are you looking forward to the redevelopment of Cliffemount?
Absolutely. We are fully supportive of what your family is trying to achieve. Cliffemount meant so much to our community and so to have a family we all know and respect give it a new lease of life, is more than we could have hoped.
Thank you, Jo. We really appreciate you taking the time to speak with us.
