Remembering Lifeboat day

Slowly the Summer that almost was ebbs away, leaving us with tide fresh memories of the places we have been and the events we held. We have time to recall and reflect on the many celebrations that are held throughout the season in order to delight and enlighten the paying, attentive tourist and local alike, for us harbour rats, the celebration of our Lifeboat has to be the focus of the year. She sits within her house, a quiet and unassuming craft, waiting patiently for the call that may take her onto the finest sea or into the cruellest gale.
Salty and damp the day began, eager to please, eyes full of long lost sleep, yellow booted men huddle together waiting, talk of coconut shies, barbecues and long sponsored swims, flow alongside Lifeboats, heroic deeds and bunting hung up the night before by the girls. This is lifeboat day; a day to praise and raise a fund of; "Thank you's," "Bless you's," and "We alway's support you's." A day of fun and games, showing off and flying flags. Our organizer appears, our Sharon, with her hair, her bosom, her voice and that way about her that no man says no! she points and she directs, like a Hollywood mogul she activates the huddled crowd to construct the day. The day begins; stalls of treats, stalls of sweets, balloons, second hand books, unwanted clothes, unplayed with toys that'll soon be replaced, contests, so many contests; guess the lifeboat station, over 220 to choose from, Compromising photographs in the "caption competion," 'Don't let Mrs Dunn enter, she's alway's winning it.' Hook the ducky everyone's lucky, cake stalls, tea stalls, cuddly toy stalls, don't miss a bargain you'll regret it in the morning stalls, somebody battered the rat, buy a burger in a bap, try a hot dog, make sure it's not your dog, kids stalls, lifeboat guild stalls, something for all stalls.
Now the day has begun, warmer now, Sharon loud upon the microphone, welcoming all the unsuspecting, visiting crowds as they pour cheerily down the cobbled street into this day, this lifeboat day. Lifeboat men and lifeboat women are at hand to lend a hand, answer a question or just be proud; this is their day. You can see the lifeboat, Spirit of Clovelly, humbly sat upon the slipway, on display, keen as a mackerel, ready and willing, the reason for the day, the reason behind the laughter, as men tug of war and race rafts and sell themselves as slaves, "All in a good cause," with Sharon above them all, cheering them on, geeing them on. The day continues as the time arrives for the rescue demonstration, a Seaking helicopter appears overhead and the boat is launched, "Inshore boat she is," "Semi-rigid, goes at it at 30 knots," "That's fast that is." Trained crew onboard, fully dry suited, head to toe, brave crew, seabound and safe; she's away, faster now faster, see her go, tourists gasp as she turns amongst the lain at anchor yachts, yachtsmen watch and wave and rock, roll and wave once more, the helicopter flies passed, crew waving at the quay full crowd, "Aren't they in for a special treat," lifeboat and helicopter set about a merry chase of cat and mouse, men lowered down into the lifeboat then raised again, displaying all the skills and seamanship of well trained members of the RNLI and the RAF. A crowd pleaser, collection box filler, the proof of what we do, the truth of who we are; volunteers, lifeboat men.
Slowly the day is ending, as a shower of rain, lightly, politely tells the people it's time to go home, sending them wearily back up the slope, so we can; dismantle, pack up, bag up, fold, pick, sweep, shovel, clean, throw, hide and finally sit down, the last offerings of the barbecue going cheap, "Come and get it while we got it!" The Red Lion bar fills, the harbour empties, Sharon soon to hibernate, her day done, glad it's over, look forward to next year when we do it all over again. Thanks to all those who help, to all those who support our little station, to those who come such a long way and those who live close by, to those who donate, who contribute. Always too many to mention, too many to forget, but they know who they are and we are grateful. See you all next lifeboat day, a day to remember.