Volunteer-run Runswick Bay Rescue Boat has gratefully received a £2512 donation from the Co-Op.
Named as a donor charity for the Co-Op’s local community fund, the Runswick Bay Rescue Boat was selected to be one of the local causes who benefit from the 1% donation the Co-Op give to members buying their own branded products, carrier bags and scratch cards.
Since November 2017 when the local community fund was launched, the Co-Op has raised £19 million for local causes nationwide.
The Runswick Bay Rescue Boat (RBRB) is extremely grateful for this donation. As a volunteer-led organisation, with volunteer crew members, the charity is always in need of funds to keep the operation going.
Formed in 1982, The RBRB is an inshore facility which works in close cooperation with the RNLI and HM coastguard with a primary remit to ‘nip in the bud’ incidents that are visible from the village and to access difficult locations along the shoreline where larger boats would struggle.
“This donation provides much needed funds which will be put towards further crew training and equipment over the next twelve months” said Peter Blenkinsop, Chairman. “The crew, committee and local Runswick Bay community would like to pass on their heartfelt thanks to the Co-Op – this money will make a huge difference.”

Mike Taylor presented our Crew Leader, Rob Matthew, with a cheque for £500.  The donation was made on behalf of Sabic UK Petrochemical, Olelins 6 on Wilton Site, Redcar: The Scrap Metal Fund.  Mike nominated RBRB to Sabic as a recipient of the funds raised to show his gratitude for the help the rescue boat provided at the annual Kayak Fishing Festival held in Runswick Bay every year which Mike now organises.  RBRB are hugely grateful for this donation and Rob thanked Mike for his continued support.

Photograph courtesy of Staithes Coastguard

On Thursday 22nd September, just after 1800 hrs, RBRB received a pager call from the Coastguard to launch to assist an elderly couple who had become stranded by the rising tide on the rocky shore line near Fillet Tail, having been walking for six hours. Staithes Coastguard and Staithes and Runswick RNLI were also in attendance.

RBRB were required to get Crew onto the shore and recover the casualties to the Staithes boat All went well and Runswick Rescue returned to shore in fading light following Staithes RNLI into Runswick at around 7.20 pm.

Helmsman, Tom Dobson said: “This had the potential to be a very dangerous situation. The couple were elderly and, having taken a wrong turn, had spent many hours clambering over the rocks. They were tired and, with darkness approaching and a rising tide, did the right thing and called 999 for help.”

Despite their ordeal, both casualties were fine and well with no apparent injuries and returned to their car for their journey home.

Air Ambulance on Runswick Bay beach

On 23rd August, on a very hot day, on Runswick Bay beach, RBRB Crew received a pager call to deliver the charity’s defibrilator to a suspected heart attack patient on the beach.  Runswick Rescue launching authority notified Humber Coastguard and initiated the Coastguard response.  Coastguard teams from Staithes and Skinningrove attended along with Helimed 99 which was already in the area.  We are pleased to report that the casualty made a full recovery.

We were honoured and proud to be asked again to take part in the display at the recent Whitby RNLI Lifeboat fundraising weekend. Congratulations to the Whitby crew for a fantastic fundraiser and thank you for everything you do to promote and support auxiliary services like RBRB in the regional community.

On the hottest day of the year so far RBRB was called upon to rescue a couple and their dog who were in difficulty on a walk from Sandsend to Runswick Bay. Fortunately both Jack, the Labrador, and his owners were later discharged after suffering heat stroke and dehydration. We were more than happy to help.

This video was filmed by Dobbo during Wednesday evening training this week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5GpxGBy3GY&feature=youtu.be

The folk musicians who gather in the Elsinore every Tuesday evening were applauded by the Runswick Bay Rescue Boat Committee in June. Chairman Ian Dobson handed a certificate of thanks to the host of the evening Tony Maher. Tony with his wife Angie have been fronting the session at the Elsinore for over three years and two and a half years ago were asked if they would collect for the Rescue Boat. With the approval of landlord Len McKnight they put a collection box in the pub and customers are encouraged to donate to the cause. In the period they have been collecting they have managed to raise an astonishing £2,800 for the Rescue Boat. Ian Dobson warmly thanked Tony & Angie, the musicians, the landlord and staff and said that without such wonderful support the Rescue Boat could not continue to be the success that it has been. The Rescue Boat was founded in 1982 after the RNLI moved the station in 1977.

The Whitby Gazette published this on 26th June.

Click on the image below to open the full sized poster and contact Ruth Furby for more information and to reserve your tickets.

There has been a last minute revision to this weekend’s programme of activities. The weather forecast is generally lovely – 16 degrees and sunny with no rain forecast. However, the sea will be quite rough on Saturday and then relatively calm on Sunday. Consequently the much loved raft race has been moved to the Sunday afternoon.

The full programme of events can be viewed below (click to enlarge). Whilst writing, it is worth us pointing out that there will be a strong offshore wind (Westerly) all weekend so please everyone be vigilant.

This article first appeared in the Whitby Gazette Online on 21st July 2014.  You can link to the article in the Whitby Gazette online here. The text follows:

A man has died after falling from cliffs at Kettleness near Whitby on Friday morning.

The 51-year-old victim, who police say was from the Cleveland area, was abseiling down the 375ft high cliffs at around 10.40am when he fell.

Reports locally suggested the two men involved had been hunting for Whitby jet, although this has not yet been confirmed by police.

Temporary Detective Superintendent Steve Smith, said: “This is a tragic incident involving two climbers who appear to have got into difficulty, resulting in the death of one of them.

“A full investigation is underway to establish exactly what happened.

“The family of the dead man are being supported by specially trained officers at this time.”

One man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The emergency services were called at around 11.20pm on Friday, to reports that a climber had fallen from a cliff at Kettleness Point near Runswick Bay.

The injured man, was airlifted by RAF Sea King helicopter to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough where he was pronounced dead.

A friend who was at the scene was unhurt and a spokesperson for Whitby coastguard, who attended the incident and cared for the second man, said: “He just said his friend was going down the cliff and they had tied this rope round a rock. But it moved and down he went.”

The man was later rushed to hospital by Staithes Coastguard after suffering from shock.

North Yorkshire Police are carrying out a full investigation into the incident to determine the exact circumstances which led to the man falling to his death.

They are appealing for walkers who were in the Kettleness and Runswick Bay area on Friday July 18 to contact them as part of an investigation into the man’s death.

The area is popular with walkers and the Cleveland Way goes through the village of Kettleness. Anyone passing through at the time may have vital information which could help the investigation. It is believed that at least two walkers were seen in the area around the time the incident happened, we are appealing for them to come forward.

Anyone who was in the area the time, even if you believe your information is insignificant, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Scarborough CID.

Please quote reference 12140119069 when passing on information.

North Yorkshire Police, Staithes and Whitby coastguard and Runswick Bay Rescue Boat attended the incident.

Photographs from the Whitby Gazette (credited to Dag Kjelldahl) follow: