St George's Ladies Group

On 30th April Mr Lee came to speak to us from the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS). He started his talk by giving out various working reports for us to look at. If any possessions are found on a beach, it is quite legal for you to take them away as long as you fill in a form stating you are looking after it for the owner.

The service has been in existence for 40 years, founded 1969. The Mayors from Fareham and Gosport were always joint Presidents. At the moment there are two ladies who have currently expressed they will be joint presidents.

There are three lifeboats, one is 25 years old. It is called David Brading. It is very clean. It is a Waterjet, and does 37 knots which is about 44 miles an hour. The crew have to wear full protection which includes helmets and jackets as they are exposed to all weathers all the time. The boat runs on diesel and is 330 horsepower. At the back of the boat is a shape like a hoop, which is a large bag to be inflated if the boat should ever turn upside down, this will make the vessel turn back up again. All the equipment is waterproof, although if the boat overturns the equipment can then get damaged.

There are generally three people in the boat. One is the coxswain, there are 24 qualified coxswains. If there were three coxswains, then the senior most experienced person would take charge.

There is a new boat being built called Jim and Mollie Newton. It has two of everything, eg two engines, two waterjets and it does 37 knots, this year it will hopefully be put on the water and may do 39 knots.

To store the new boat in the boathouse which was built 21 years ago, the Ladies Toilet had to be taken out, it is a tight fit, but the boat does go in it.

All members are volunteers, male and female. Cadets start at 14 years old and go to 18 years old. There is a Medical Section; the doctor travels abroad a lot of the time, but when in this country is either at Southampton General Hospital or QA. There are Paramedics; they check the divers once a year to see they are fit to continue diving. The divers like to have their own equipment and air bottles when the need arises.

There are 76 members. Two members have the MBE. Fred Brading who was Chairman for 24 years and Ken Pink.

Mr Lee took over as Chairman from Mr Brading, he did it for 9 years. Steve Hobbs has now taken over from Mr Lee. In 40 years they have only had 4 Chairmen.

This year so far 13 incidents have occurred. Last year they worked alongside the RNLI five times. There are 14 separate lifeboats along the Solent, only two boats have Waterjets, at Hamble and GAFIRS.

The boat and trailer weigh together 4½ tons, which means a tractor is needed to take it into the water. Launch time is about 10 minutes, it seems to be quicker at night than daytime, probably because of traffic.

There is a fire pump in the new boat, but if there should be a fire at sea, then the Fire Brigade is rung to go to the lifeboat station and then out to sea, with the present boats.

All the boats carry flares, not blue ones as they blend in with the sea, either pink or green. It is usually a flame at night and smoke in the day.

They have applied four times to the lottery for funds but have not been successful. They write to everyone they rescue, just saying how much it costs, some people make a contribution, other don’t, but all rescues at sea are free and no-one is obliged to pay anything.

Priscilla Barlow