Passing the baton

Following Chief Coast guard, "John Bumby's," rescue of the crew of the "Odone", in 1869, the RNLI established a station at Clovelly. In 1870 the first appointed Coxswain was Master Mariner, "John Elliot." John Elliots daughter,"Susan," married local fisherman and lifeboat man,"Thomas Jenn," they had three sons and a daughter, "Alice." Alice Jenn married a Bucks Mills fisherman named, "Bert Braund" and they settled in Clovelly where Bert fished and took his seat onboard the lifeboat; they also had a son, "Tom," who followed in his father's footsteps and became a fisherman and lifeboat man. Tom was to have six sons, four of which, over the years, became involved with the lifeboat; the youngest son, "Edward," served on the offshore 70 ft Lifeboats before the station was closed by the RNLI in 1988, he then became a crewman on the independant lifeboat until the RNLI re-established the station in 1998; Edward then took on the role of a deputy launching authority, rising to become the stations "Honorary Secretary," or as it's titled today the "Lifeboat Operations Manager," a role he held until this Christmas when he decided to pass the baton onto the very capable station mechanic, "Nigel Eveliegh." Edward though, has not left the station completely, he has only resumed his position as a deputy launcher and will be as active as before about the station. Edwards brother "Christopher," is also involved with the lifeboat, previously a crewman and Helmsman, today he is one of our most important launching tractor drivers and has had to put the boat out in some harrowing circumstances. So from 1870 up to the present day a member of Edwards family has been involved with Clovelly's lifeboat.

The foundations of stations like Clovelly are laid by people like Edward, whose unquestioned service and dedication are an example for us all to admire. Lifeboat stations like Clovelly are not about the RNLI, they're about the people who man the boat, the people who patiently wait behind; the people who stand scarved and gloved on the cold streets waving collection boxes, the people who stop what they are doing and think when they hear the boat has been launched, who wait at vantage points gazing at the restless sea, for it to return, it's about the village, the small huddled community, the traditions, new and old, that hold them altogether; and it's people like Edward, ordinary, everyday people that make us proud to be a part of the station.

Edward may be moving sideways in his role within the lifeboat, but as an employee of the Clovelly Estate Company, he will never be far from the village, Edward is another of those great oaks that make up the woodland that is our village, he's funny, he's gracious, a great father and he's the best friend anyone could have.
We wish Nigel luck and the best ever wishes in his New Year new role, he knows he has the unstinting support of the station, the complete trust of the crew but much more importantly, he has the love and support of his family; who could wish for more.