Caister Lifeboat

Caister is the home to the only offshore lifeboat in the UK that is independent of the RNLI. [Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service. [http://www.caister-lifeboat.org.uk/ The Caister Lifeboat] " Retrieved 04 October 2007] [BBC Online. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/your/extra/caisterboat.shtml Caister Lifeboat] ] A lifeboat at Caister was first documented in 1791, being used by the Caister Beach Company to salvage ships wrecked on the sand banks offshore from Caister. Between 1856 and 1969 lifeboats at Caister were operated by the RNLI. The current lifeboats, the "Bernard Matthews II" (a Dutch-built Valentijn 2000 offshore lifeboat) and the "Jim Davidson OBE" (a semi-rigid inflatable onshore lifeboat), are run by the Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service, a registered charity supported entirely by public donation.

List of Coxwains

1845-1872 Ben Hodds

1872-1887 Philip George

1887-1900 James Haylett Jnr

1900-1901 Aaron Haylett

1902-1903 John “Whampo” Brown

1903-1919 John “Spratt” Haylett

1919-1935 Charles Laycock

1935-1950 Joseph Woodhouse

1950-1956 James Brown

1956-1969 Jack Plummer

1969-1981 Alfred Brown

1981-1991 Benny Read

1991-2004 Richard Thurlow

2004-Present Paul Williams

The Sinking Of The Zephyr

James Haylett Snr. became Coxwain of the Caister lifeboat. His mettle was tested at around midnight on 22nd July, 1885. The yawl Zephyr was launched to the aid of a stranded schooner on the Lower Barber Sand. On a calm and moonlit night and the crew of fifteen were on what they felt was a routine call. James Haylett, Senior, was at the helm and as the yawl neared the Barber he called out “now dear boys, keep a lookout for that old stump” referring to the mast of a stone-laden schooner, the crew of which had been saved by the Caister men some nine years earlier. His warnings came too late however when the yawl’s port bow struck the mast and the boat was ripped apart. Seconds later the whole crew were struggling in the water. They managed to cut free much of the yawl’s rigging and masts and this proved to be the salvation of the survivors. James Haylett, the coxswain, supported himself on two oars before drifting close by the foremast, on which were his son Aaron, William Knowles and Joseph Haylett. They kept afloat for a time, but the mast kept rolling over in the swell. Aaron moved to his father’s oars but William & Joseph were drowned. John George, another of the crew, swam towards the shore and came across a shrimper, "The Brothers", of Yarmouth. Which then led the search for the other beachmen. First to be picked up was Robert Plummer on a grating, then one after the other, Aaron Haylett, Isaiah Haylett, George Haylett, Harry Russell, and lastly James Haylett, Senior, still on the foremast with an oar under one arm and a sett under the other. The remaining eight crewmen were drowned. James' son Frederick was amongst the dead.

1901 Caister Lifeboat Disaster

On the night of 13 November 1901 the Lifeboat "Beauchamp" and nine crew were lost while attempting a rescue during heavy seas. Asked at the inquest to their deaths why the crew had persisted in the rescue, retired coxswain James Haylett in response to the question from the coroner "I suppose they had given up the job and were returning." said "They would never give up the ship. If they had to keep at it 'til now, they would have sailed about until daylight to help her. Going back is against the rules when we see distress signals like that." This response was translated by journalists to become the famous phrase "Caister men never turn back", "Never Turn Back" was later to become a motto of the RNLI. A monument to the men lost in the disaster bearing this inscription stands in the cemetery at Caister and the pub nearest to the lifeboat shed is named the "Never Turn Back".

RNLI & Independent Status

The RNLI lifeboat station at Caister was closed by the Institution in October 1969 after the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station received a 44ft Waveney class lifeboat which was deemed fast enough to cover the Caister area. The Caister Lifeboat station re-opened as an independently run lifeboat station dependent on public donation, and continues to save lives today.

The Death of Coxwain Benny Read

Sunday 1st September 1991

On a sunny day, the Caister Lifeboat crew crew gathered for their traditional pint at the “Never Turn Back” and then went home to lunch. At 1.30 pm Coxwain Benny Read was contacted by the Coastguards and requested to launch the inshore lifeboat. He agreed at once and asked for the pagers to be set off. Benny then ran across to the lifeboat station followed by Bruce, his loyal alsatian to raise the alarm. In the course of setting off a maroon he sustained fatal chest injuries when it exploded. Sadly he was killed in what turned out to be a false alarm. Messages of sympathy came from many including HRH The Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra.

References

*Tooke C (August 1986) "Caister - Beach Boats and Beachmen", Poppyland Publishing ISBN-10: 0946148198 ISBN-13: 978-0946148196
*Pestell R (October 1973) "Norfolk Fair Magazine: The saga of the Caister lifeboats", R.F. Eastern Limited

External links

* http://www.caister-lifeboat.org.uk/
* http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/your/extra/caisterboat.shtml