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| News Looe RNLI’s new D class inshore lifeboat is officially namedJuly 09, 2011  Hundreds of people attended a special ceremony at the lifeboat station this morning (Saturday 9 July) to officially name and dedicate Looe’s inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith. The D class, which has been on service in Looe since November, was funded by a public appeal which saw an amazing £84,000 raised in eight months – more than double the original target. Under sunny skies, the invited guests and the local volunteer RNLI teams celebrated the occasion with a service of dedication, led by the Reverend Brian McQuillen, who came back to Looe especially for the service following his retirement earlier this year. The lifeboat was handed to the care of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution by Mr John Naismith, father of Ollie, and was named by Ollie’s mother Maxine and sister Tori. David Haines, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager at Looe, said: ‘On behalf of Looe RNLI, it gives me great pleasure to accept the Ollie Naismith into our care. We’re delighted with this new inshore lifeboat, which arrived on station in November. Since then, it has launched 11 times and assisted 16 people. The Ollie Naismith is much faster than our last inshore lifeboat and is fitted out with high-tech navigation equipment and an updated first aid and oxygen box. ‘When the appeal was launched back in March last year for £31,000, we never imagined we would be standing here today with more than £84,000 raised. It is phenomenal to think a small community has raised such a huge amount of money to purchase a new lifeboat for their town and is something we should all be very proud to be a part of.’ Volunteer lifeboat crew members, fundraisers, donors and other invited guests were present at the event, which also included a demonstration of the lifeboat’s capabilities after the ceremony. Music was provided by the Looe Community School band and Pelynt Male Voice Choir and Polperro Fishermens Choir also attended. Crowds were treated to a surprise visit from the Lizard’s new Tamar class lifeboat Rose, as well as Looe’s old lifeboat Ryder. The £31,000 fundraising appeal for Looe’s new D class lifeboat began in March last year, when it was announced the boat would be named after Ollie Naismith, a very popular local teenager who died in a car crash in December 2009 at the age of 19. Support was overwhelming from the local community and by November, just eight months later, more than £84,000 had been raised. The additional money meant the RNLI was able to purchase a tractor and trailer for the new lifeboat and will fund the running costs associated with the lifeboat for many years to come. The Ollie Naismith arrived at Looe in November on what would have been his twentieth birthday. His father John said at the ceremony today: ‘Ollie loved the sea and he loved Looe, this is the perfect tribute. ‘I’d like to thank organising committee which was set up with the aim of raising £31,000 for the purchase of the lifeboat. To all of you on the committee, thank you so very much. To all of you that contributed or collected, or organised an event - thank you. ‘To raise almost three times the target, providing not just a lifeboat, but a trailer for it and a tractor to pull them is a wonderful achievement.’ Maxine Naismith, Ollie's mother named the lifeboat. She said: ‘We are here today to celebrate. We are celebrating life. We are celebrating the compassion, dedication and tremendous efforts of those who belong to the community of Looe and its surrounding areas, who contributed in one way or another and have brought us here today, to help keep us all safe at sea. For that, I thank you all.’ The ceremony marked the start of the Festival by the Sea weekend in Looe with highlights including music concerts, food tasting on the quay and a raft race. January 29, 2011 Looe RNLI volunteers have helped raise more than £2,000 for the RNLI in their SOS triathlon. About 25 people took on a 14-mile triathlon on Saturday to raise funds for the charity’s annual fundraising day. The chilly temperatures did not affect anyone’s spirits as all participants battled on through the elements. The triathlon started at the source of the Looe river in East Taphouse. The crew then ran approximately six miles to Morrisons in Liskeard. After a short break, they set off on their bikes to cycle six miles through the Looe valley to Terrace Bridge where they met four gigs and rowed down the river to the finish line at the lifeboat station. Lifeboat operations manager at Looe David Haines said: 'It was a very exciting day with about 25 crew and friends competing in the Looe Lifeboat triathlon for RNLI SOS day. Everyone completed the course in grand style starting with the run from East Taphouse to Liskeard Morrisons where they were met by the Liskeard fundraising branch with pasties and energy drinks, they then jumped on their bikes and cycled to Terras Bridge for the gig row to the boathouse. I would like to thank all the people who sponsored the crew and gave us donations and well over £2000 was raised on the day. 'The crew would especially like to thank Francis and Siobhan for starting at their house, Morrisons and Tesco, the Liskeard and Looe RNLI committees, Looe, Charlestown and Calstock gig clubs for loan of the gigs, Barnecutts and Blakes in Liskeard, Starfish, Looe, Mags Pope and Ray Jowle for back up vehicles, Blackdog Marine for the rescue boat, and everyone who cheered them on their way. 'We hope to make this an annual SOS day event as all the crew and families enjoyed the day so much.'  Looe RNLI 'triathletes' at the finish line January 7, 2011 Source Our Sea for Looe RNLI SOS day VOLUNTEER lifeboat crew at Looe are preparing to take on a sponsored triathlon in aid of the charity's SOS day this month. Approximately 15 of the crew at the station are limbering up to take on a run, cycle and row titled Source Our Sea on Saturday January 29. The event will see the crew run from the source of the Looe river at East Taphouse, 5.8miles to the carpark of Morrisons in Liskeard. The crew will then jump on their bikes to cycle 6.3 miles through the valley, past Trewidland and finishing at Terras Bridge on the Sandplace road. They will then row gigs from Looe gig club two miles down the river to the finish line at the lifeboat station. The event has been organised by Looe RNLI with help from the Liskeard and Looe fundraising committees. All money raised will go to the RNLI. One of the organisers crew member Clive Palfrey said: "The crew are excited and slightly apprehensive ahead of the 14mile triathlon. Everyone is busy training hard to ensure they can complete the challenge. We keep our fingers crossed that the weather will be kind to us on the day." The triathlon will start at 10.30am. The crew will be at Morrisons from about midday until 12.30pm when the bike ride will start. The row is due to begin at 2pm with the finish at approximately 2.30pm. People are being urged to show their support. Each crew member is raising sponsorship for the event and bucket collections will be held along the route. People are also urged to turn out and cheer on the crew at Morrisons and at the finish line. Lifeboat operations manager David Haines said: "We're excited and pleased to be supporting SOS day. In previous years we’ve held fundraising events but this triathlon is a real challenge and will really put the crew through their paces. We hope as many people as possible will support us." Donna Robson, RNLI fundraising and communications manager for the south west said: "Last year, RNLI fundraisers and supporters around the south west raised nearly £66,000, by holding a variety of events across the region, for example, Soap Our Saloons or Share Our Soup, and we hope to make 2011 even bigger. For more information on how to organise your own event, or to find out what’s happening in your area log onto www.rnli.org.uk/sos" To donate go to www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/looernli or contact Looe lifeboat station on 01503 265072. November 30, 2010 Looe RNLI appeal reaches £75,000
The fundraising appeal for a new D class lifeboat has reached £75,000 following the success of two recent events.
A full house packed the Sports Hall at Looe Community School on November 20 for a variety concert to mark the end of the £31,000 fundraising appeal.
The event raised just over £2,000.
On the same night, a crew ball was held at Looe Bay Holiday Park, which raised approximately £4,000.
The total now stands at £75,000 with more funds still coming in.
David Haines, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Looe, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who supported the variety concert and have contributed to raise this amazing amount of money. Looe now has a valuable new asset which will help save lives for many years to come.”
Tamsin Thomas, RNLI Divisional Media Relations Manager, compered the variety concert, which saw a host of local groups showcase their talents. Entertainment included Looe Primary School, brownies, scouts, Sheila’s School of Dancing, Looe Valley Singers, Polperro Fishermens Choir, Pelynt Male Voice Choir, Porthpyra Singers, the community school band, guitarist Phil Keene and the Looe Entertainers. Between the various acts, the Rotary Club of Looe Valley held an auction.
John Trethewey, president of the Looe Lifeboat fundraising committee, said: “I’d like to thank all the performers for their contributions, Tamsin for making the evening run so smoothly and the Rotary Club who also manned the car park.
“Thanks are also expressed to the Looe Community School for the use of the hall, Ian Stevenson for all the audio back-up and the primary school for providing the staging. Special thanks also go to the RNLI committee members who did a great job with the raffle and the refreshments. A great evening was enjoyed by all.” 19 November 2010
Looe RNLI almost doubles its money as lifeboat appeal reaches £69,000
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) can reveal today (Friday 19 November) that the appeal to raise funds for a new D class inshore lifeboat for Looe has raised nearly double the target set. It had been hoped to collect the £35,000 needed to provide the lifeboat, which is being named after local man, 19-year-old Ollie Naismith who died in a tragic car accident last year. After seven months of very determined fundraising, the charity can confirm now that thanks to the enormous generosity and hard work of many people, the amount raised is actually £69,000
The new D class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith is being unveiled to the public today (Friday 19 November) on what would have been Ollie’s twentieth birthday.
A D class inshore lifeboat has served Looe since 1992 and Ollie Naismith will replace the present one, Regina Mary. The new lifeboat is of the very latest design and is faster than the previous one and fitted out with the latest high-tech navigation equipment and an updated first aid kit. Small and highly manoeuvrable, the lifeboat is ideal for rescues close to shore in fair to moderate conditions and has a single outboard engine and can be righted manually by the three crew in the event of a capsize.
Dave Haines, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager at Looe, says the station team are all very excited at the lifeboat’s arrival:
‘Everyone has worked really hard to help raise the money for the new lifeboat and it’s really exciting to know it’s finally on its way to us. Of course it’s made all the more special because of who it is named after and I know Ollie Naismith will ensure we can continue our lifesaving work in the Looe area.
Our volunteer crew have been very busy this week training on this new, more advanced lifeboat. We now look forward to using her to help save lives at sea.
This weekend there will be a major concert at Looe Community College that will mark the end of the appeal to fund the lifeboat, so now I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped us to raise the money needed. Hundreds of people have run events, taken on personal challenges and sent donations and we are grateful to them all.’
David Hannah, RNLI Appeals Manager for the south west, says many were inspired to support the fundraising effort by the personal link to Ollie Naismith:
‘The appeal and the lifeboat are seen as a memorial to a vibrant and bright young teenager whose life was cut tragically short by a terrible accident. As a result, many people have worked tremendously hard to raise the money needed and have exceeded the target set. This is great news for our charity as it means we can now fund the lifeboat, her upkeep including refits when appropriate, and the costs of training the very dedicated volunteers who will crew her. This support can now last for many years to come.
I would like to pay tribute to the fundraising committee at Looe RNLI who have spearheaded this appeal and worked extremely hard to make it the success it is, and to the hundreds of other people who have donated their time to bring in money through events, challenges and financial gifts. Thank you one and all.’ October 26, 2010 THE APPEAL for a new D class lifeboat for Looe RNLI has received £4,000 from two local organisations. Looe Community School presented Ollie Naismith’s mum Maxine and the crew with a cheque of £2,000 at an assembly last Wednesday. The money was raised at a four-mile sponsored walk to Millendreath on the last day of term in July and at a mufti day. The boat will be named after Ollie Naismith, who was a pupil at the school. Earlier this month Liskeard Young Farmers also presented a cheque of £2,000 to the appeal, raised during their walk from Boscastle to Looe. A spokesperson from Looe RNLI said: "We are very grateful to these two organisations for their donations. Their efforts will help us to ensure our crew has the best equipment to save lives at sea."  pictured l-r: head teacher Heather Jenkins, Ollie's mother Maxine Naismith, Ollie's best friend James Shead, lifeboat crew Jamie Curtis and James Chudleigh and chair of the student council Tim Sidnell. September 30, 2010 VOLUNTEER crew members of Looe RNLI became culinary experts when they took part in a new ITV1 show. Five of them had the difficult job of judging dishes prepared by celebrity chefs for the new series of 10-Mile Menu. Phil Vickery and Jun Tanaka, along with their celebrity assistants, presenter Camilla Dallerup and Kim Woodburn of How Clean Is Your House, spent the day sourcing local ingredients from a ten-mile radius. Each team then tried to win over the tough judges in the shape of Looe’s RNLI crew, with their three-course meals. Jamie Curtis, Verity Pope, Guy Cooper, James Chudleigh and Richard Porter, were filmed tasting the dishes and had to score each one out of ten. The show was filmed at Barclay House on Thursday night and viewers will now have to wait until spring 2011 when the show is broadcast to find out which team won. 
September 18, 2010
Looe RNLI has received a donation of more than £1,000 in memory of a Polperro man.
The family of John Greenland visited the station this week to donate a cheque of £1,223.42 to the Looe Inshore Lifeboat appeal.
Mr Greenland, who ran the Polmary restaurant with his wife Catherine, died suddenly on August 4 aged 54.
The money was raised at a collection at his funeral and around the village of Polperro.
John’s daughter Laura, who also visited the station with her boyfriend Karl to deliver the cheque, said she had been telling her dad about the Ollie Naismith appeal just weeks before his death.
Catherine said: “The money has come from the whole village. There were over 100 people at John’s funeral – he was much loved and his death was devastating for everyone.”
“When John wasn’t in his chef clothes, he always wore a Sennen RNLI t-shirt. We sent him off in it as he always wore it. It made sense to donate the money to the RNLI as it was close to his heart.”
Grateful thanks were extended to the family and the Polperro community from Looe RNLI for the donation.
August 26, 2010 Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans called into Looe Lifeboat Station on Thursday afternoon.
Chris visited Looe on Thursday and spent a few hours learning to surf on East Looe beach.
He was joined by Jonny ‘Sports’ Saunders, who reads the sport news on his Radio 2 breakfast show.
Under the watchful eye of instructor Sam Lamiroy, the pair did manage to catch a wave and stand up.
Chris used the station to get changed and took the opportunity to have a quick look around the lifeboats.
Chris told volunteer lifeboat crewman Richard Porter, who showed him around, that he was “a big supporter of the RNLI and enjoyed visiting stations as a child”.
August 22, 2010 Liskeard walkers help Looe RNLI
Liskeard Young Farmers completed a 40-mile walk on Sunday raising money for Looe RNLI and the Primrose Cancer Ward in Derriford.
About 40 people took part in the walk, dubbed ‘The Smugglers Way, the YFC Way’ from Boscastle to Looe over two days.
The walkers started off at Boscastle on Saturday morning, trekking 15 miles to Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor where they rested for the night.
Then on Sunday, they cycled to Duloe and did the last six miles of the route on foot, finishing on Looe’s Banjo Pier at about 3pm.
Pasties and cream teas were put on at Looe RNLI’s lifeboat station afterwards and helmsman Nick Pope took the opportunity to thank the walkers on behalf of Looe RNLI for their efforts.
Volunteer crew then staged a launch of the Atlantic lifeboat for everyone to watch.
Liskeard Young Famers raised £1,500 for each charity with money still coming in. Rob Dennis, chairman of the Liskeard YFC, said: “The walk was really good, everyone enjoyed themselves. We have raised in excess of £1,500 for each charity with money still coming in from sponsorship and collections. Everyone who started the walk completed it – it has been a really good weekend.” Treasurer Dominic Ball added: “We’d like to thank everyone who has supported the event, including businesses Geoffrey Harris Tyres, HR Jaspers Meats, Peake GB Ltd, Jeffreys, Markrite, Glynn Valley Chef Wear, Matford Arable and Interserve. We are very grateful.” 
August 11, 2010 Concert at Looe RNLI Boathouse
Polperro Fishermen’s Choir are performing in Looe RNLI Boathouse this month.
The concert will take place on Thursday August 26 at 7pm.
Entry by donation on the door. August 11, 2010 Young Farmers Walk for RNLI YOUNG farmers from South East Cornwall are walking the coast for Looe RNLI this month. Dubbed The Smugglers Way, the YFC Way, members of the Liskeard Young Farmers Club are gearing up to walk and cycle almost 40 miles from Boscastle to Looe on August 21 and 22 to raise money for Looe RNLI and the Primose Cancer Ward in Derriford. The club hopes to raise £4,000 and so far, 40 people have signed up to take part. The event will start on August 21 from Boscastle at 9.45am with members aiming to reach Jamaica Inn, 14 miles away by 6pm. Next day, the group will cycle 16 miles to Duloe and walk the remaining six miles to Looe finishing on the Banjo Pier at about 3pm. August 5, 2010 Concert for Looe RNLI
Mount Charles Brass Band are performing at Looe RNLI boathouse next month.
The concert will take place on Saturday September 4 at 7.30pm featuring popular melodies followed by a ‘Last Night at the Proms’ theme.
Entry is by donation. All proceeds will go to the appeal for a new D class lifeboat for Looe. August 5, 2010 Race night for Looe appeal
Liskeard Netball Club is holding a charity race night this month for Looe RNLI.
The event will take place on Saturday August 21 at 8pm at the Railway pub, Liskeard.
People and companies are being called for to sponsor each of the seven races for £25. The race will then be named after the sponsor and feature in the programme for the evening.
Horses are also being sold prior to the event at £5 and the winning owner from each race will get a meal at the Railway pub to the value of £10. All betting will take place on the night.
Money raised will go to Looe RNLI’s appeal for a new D class lifeboat.
Lucy Smale from the club said: “Liskeard Netball Club is organising the event and have chosen the RNLI Looe lifeboat appeal as their charity. We wanted to help a local charity and are aware of the ongoing fundraising efforts in memory of Ollie. Ollie’s death has affected the wider community of Looe and Liskeard and he was also a friend of some of the players.” Anyone wishing to sponsor a race or buy a horse can contact Lucy or Kerry via the contact us page on the Liskeard Netball Club website, www.liskeardnetballclub.co.uk by August 14, or contact the Railway pub. July 12, 2010 
Pictured are Looe RNLI crew in the raft race - they came second!
Looe festival success LOOE'S Festival of the Sea, organised by the RNLI, was a great success over the weekend. Hundreds of people were in the town to enjoy the attractions, which included music from Falmouth Marine Band, performances from talented youngsters at Looe Community School and many other music and dance displays. Restaurants also got involved and lined the quay showcasing their finest creations. RNLI attractions included a simulator, beach lifeguard display and a display in the bay with a helicopter from RNAS Culdrose. The event culminated with the raft race, organised by the Looe Boat Owner's Association which made a welcome return after several years break. About 75 people took part building their own rafts and racing them down the river. The winners were the Globetrotters from the Globe pub with the Looe RNLI raft coming in second. It is hoped the race will become a regular date on the calendar now. Dave Nicoll, fundraising manager for the RNLI said: "The Festival of the Sea weekend was a great success. The quay was absolutely packed with people during the raft race which was brilliant. We were so pleased to help resurrect the raft race and we hope it will become an annual event. We are very grateful to everyone who supported the event – thank you all so much." All money raised will go to the £31,000 appeal for a new D Class inshore lifeboat for Looe. Skydive boosts appeal
July 12, 2010
THE RNLI's fundraising appeal for a new D class lifeboat at Looe has received a major boost thanks to 18 brave people.
Ollie Naismith's mum Maxine, sister Tori and close friend and volunteer lifeboat crew member Jamie Curtis were just some of the people who took to the skies earlier this month in a sponsored tandem sky dive jumping 10,00ft out of a plane.
Money raised will go to the £31,000 lifeboat appeal for a new D class for Looe - to be named after teenager Ollie Naismith who died in December.
Maxine said: "It was absolutely awesome - we had the most fantastic day. The scenery at 10,000ft without a cloud in the sky was amazing - we saw the whole of Cornwall. Every single one of us has said we want to do it again and we are now going to make it an annual event on the third weekend in June for the RNLI.
"It really was the most exhilarating experience and a massive adrenalin rush - it took us days to come down as we were all buzzing after.
The group handed over £2,430 on the day but with money still coming in the amount looks set to reach £4,000
Maxine added her thanks to the Cornwall Parachute Club.
She said: "It was the most perfect fitting we could have done for Ollie, if he experienced it he'd be hooked." Festival of the Sea returns THE FESTIVAL of the Sea returns to Looe this year with the RNLI at the helm. The charity is organising this year’s event, over the weekend of July 10 and 11. A host of events have been planned for the festival, including the return of the popular raft race. Throughout Saturday and Sunday chefs from more than a dozen local restaurants will line the quayside offering samples of scrumptious fish dishes and other culinary delights. The lifeboat station will be open throughout the weekend and historic lifeboat Ryder will be in the port. There will also be lifeguards and the RNLI’s lifeboat simulator where people can experience life as a crew member on the Tamar lifeboat. Music and dancing will be provided by many local groups. Looe Community School pupils will be performing in the Rose Garden on the Saturday from 12.30pm onwards with their set including Cornish songs, solos, the staff choir and the samba band. There will also be a concert in the station on Saturday night with the Looe Valley Singers. It is also hoped Falmouth Marine Band will make another appearance at the festival. On Sunday, the Looe lifeboats will do an exercise with a helicopter from RNAS Culdrose at 2pm in the bay and at 3pm the Looe Raft Race returns to the town. Everyone is encouraged to take part in the race. Sponsorships and entry forms are now available. For more information contact Sean Sullivan on 01503.263370, mobile 07929 736684 or email seanvivianne@btopenworld.com All money raised for the RNLI over the weekend will go to the £31,000 appeal for a new D Class inshore lifeboat for Looe. The lifeboat will be named after teenager Ollie Naismith, who died tragically in a collision on the A38 in December last year. For more information on the festival email cornwall@rnli.org.uk The ever popular ‘grazing on the quay’ will take place on 10th & 11th July as part of the Looe Festival by the Sea with daily tasting from 11am. Visitor and locals alike can sample the best of local food and drink in stalls set up along the harbour side of the historic fishing port of Looe.
You will be able to savour the flavour of king prawn shooters, tickle the taste buds with oat-coated mackerel burger or flatter the palate with festival fishcakes! The event is also designed to 'meet the producers'; including Cornish Orchards apple juices and ciders. If Looe's catch of the day is not your tidbit, then perhaps you will smack your lips and be tempted with Cornish Strawberries dipped in chocolate. The tastings is organised by Taste SE Cornwall group in conjunction with the RNLI who are organising the overall event. Other highlights over the weekend include the Great Cornish Raft Race on the Sunday organised by Looe Boats Owners Association, the historic Ryder Lifeboat, an air sea rescue, music, dancing and choir concerts. There will also be lifeguards and the RNLI’s lifeboat simulator where people can experience life as a crew member on the Tamar lifeboat.
Just some of the local businesses taking part in the grazing include; The Old Sail Loft Restaurant - Festival Fishcakes, Cornish seafood with wasabi salad, choclate & strawberry pavlova Barclay House Hotel - King Prawn Shooters, BBQ mackerel with homemade salsa Trawlers on the Quay
Chef Julian Clements - fish goujons & paella
Blue Plate Downderry Fishing Boat Lisanne - Crabs & Lobsters, Seafood tartlets Squid Ink - Sweet & Savoury Jellies, Scallop & prawn topped with caviar & Spicy Cornish Orchards Cider Pengellys Fishmongers - Fish BBQ Cornish Orchards - Cider and Apple Juice Chocolate Dream Company - Cornish Strawberries kebabs & chocolate fountain Treleavens Award winning ice cream - chocolate, clotted cream & rhubarb Taste South East Cornwall have a range of year round events focussing on a Taste Festival from Nov - Dec 2010
www.taste-southeastcornwall.co.uk www.looefestivalbythesea.org Skydive to raise money for Looe lifeboat appealMay 16, 2010  More than 20 people are preparing to jump out of a plane at 10,000 foot next month to raise money for the RNLI’s appeal for a new lifeboat at Looe. The event on June 20 at Perranporth will raise money for the £31,000 appeal for a new D class lifeboat, to be named in memory of 19-year-old Ollie Naismith. Ollie’s mother Maxine, sister Tori and best friend and volunteer crew at Looe, Jamie Curtis, are three of the 25 people taking part. Others include Ollie’s school and college friends and former band mates. Maxine, who has organised the tandem jump, said: ‘We hope to raise a minimum of £3,375. None of us have ever done it before. Some of us are terrified! We are all excited and will do it for Ollie. ‘We are getting t-shirts printed to wear on the day and there will be a picture of Ollie on the back, with the words “this ones for you Ollie!” ‘We have all been arranging sponsorship individually and some of us have done car boot sales, RNLI sweepstake sheets, cake stalls, raffles, quiz nights, bands have played gigs for us and friends and family have helped us with individual sponsorship.’ Each person is required to raise a minimum of £395 with additional funds going to the appeal. Tori raised hundreds of pounds whilst on holiday earlier this year. She said: ‘I’ve had so much support and raised a lot of money when I went on holiday to France earlier this year. I was at an English speaking campsite and because I go there yearly they knew who I was and knew Ollie so once I explained about the sky dive and the lifeboat they were more then happy to help. ‘I’m terrified about the skydive seeing as I'm scared of heights but on the other hand I'm really looking forward to it as it’s an amazing opportunity for an amazing cause.’ People wishing to support the appeal can send a cheque made out to the Looe Inshore Lifeboat Appeal to Looe Lifeboat Station, West End, East Looe, Cornwall, PL13 1AT, ring 0845 121 4999 or donate online at www.rnli.org.uk/looeappeal Looe lifeboat crew praised for land rescueMay 14, 2010 Volunteer crew at Looe RNLI Lifeboat Station have been praised by the RNLI for their commitment to the community following a rescue in December 2009. The charity’s operations director Michael Vlasto wrote to Looe lifeboat operations manager David Haines praising the crew for rescuing an injured woman from a set of isolated steps in East Looe in difficult weather conditions. On December 23 2009, helmsman Clive Palfrey was walking to work when he found a woman who had slipped on ice and injured herself. He said: “I think it must have been the iciest day of the winter. I usually drive to work but decided to walk due to the weather conditions. I got to the bottom of the hill and found a woman lying in the path screaming. I rang 999 but was told because of the poor weather conditions there would be a delay. It then started hailing and the water was like a stream running down the hill straight down the woman’s back. I then decided to call the lifeboat operations manager and get the crew paged as we had first aid equipment at the station.” The crew assembled at the boathouse and proceeded to the scene with stretchers and blankets. They transferred the woman to a stretcher and carried her up the hill where she was put in a house to keep warm. Crew members were then told the ambulance was further delayed due to a serious collision so a helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was tasked and landed at the primary school. The crew carried the woman to the school where she was taken to Derriford Hospital. Mr Palfrey added: “I was the one that found her but the rest of the crew need praising. They were the men who dropped everything they were doing, working as fishermen, painters and decorators for example, to help a woman up a hill in an incident – they really were 'good samaritians'. A special mention must also go to crew member and doctor Dale Staff whose medical knowledge was invaluable.” Mr Vlasto said in a letter: “Clive’s initiative, followed by the commitment to serving their local community demonstrated by the crew who responded to the call reflects very well on Looe lifeboat station. Well done indeed, all of you.” David Haines, lifeboat operations manager at Looe added: “The volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew are committed to helping people in distress at sea and in this case on the shore, they are all fully trained in first aid and they worked extremely well to assist this lady in the atrocious conditions that day and to get her to hospital as soon as possible.” Fundraiser walker calls into Looe lifeboat stationMay 14, 2010  AN RNLI fundraiser walking the coast path from Dover to Lands End called into Looe recently. Sara Lyons from Drakewells started the 630 mile walk last month to raise money for the RNLI lifeguards and Lifeworks SurfABLE. She is due to finish at the last lifeboat station on the coast path, Sennen on May 21. Sara called into Looe on Tuesday and stayed in the town overnight before setting off for Fowey. To follow her progress and donate go to www.justgiving.com/Sara-LyonsRNLI or www.justgiving.com/Sara-Lyons. Mayor’s charity donation to Looe lifeboat appealMay 11, 2010  LOOE RNLI has received a cheque of £2,500 from the town council for the new D class lifeboat appeal. The local branch was selected as the former mayor Cllr Michael Joy’s charity of the year for 2009-2010, and various events were held over the year to raise funds, including an auction at the annual civic dinner. A cheque was presented to members of the Looe RNLI fundraising committee at the mayor making ceremony on Monday. The money will go towards the £31,000 needed for a new D class lifeboat in Looe. The boat will be named after Looe teenager Ollie Naismith who died tragically in a car accident in December 2009. Anne Watson from the lifeboat committee said: ‘Thank you very much, we are really grateful to be mayor’s charity. This money will go towards the new Looe lifeboat, named after Ollie Naismith. The lifeboat has been called out 13 times this year compared to five last year so you can see this money will be used well. We greatly appreciate it.’ The Looe branch of the RNLI has also been selected as the new mayor Cllr Jimmy Dingle’s charity of the year alongside the Looe Royal British Legion branch. Looe lifeboat appeal gets financial boostMay 10, 2010  Looe lifeboat appeal gets financial boost The RNLI appeal for a new D Class lifeboat in Looe has been given a boost thanks to a donation from a St Austell group. The Soroptimists of St Austell and District presented a cheque of £200 to the lifeboat fund in memory of Looe teenager Ollie Naismith. Ollie, 19, passed away in December 2009 following a car accident. The new £31,000 lifeboat at Looe will be named in his memory. The cheque was presented to Ollie’s grandmother, Diana Cross, who has been a Soroptimist since 1983. The Soroptimist Club raised the money by taking part in a patient leaflet survey. Ollie, who was brought up in Looe and was a keen surfer and musician, performed twice at Pentewan Gala in 2004 and 2005 with his band. Ollie’s father John and uncle Andrew were brought up in Pentewan and attended Penrice School and St Austell College. People wishing to support the Looe appeal can send a cheque made out to the Looe Inshore Lifeboat Appeal to Looe Lifeboat Station, West End, East Looe, Cornwall, PL13 1AT, ring 0845 121 4999 or donate online at www.rnli.org.uk/looeappeal | |
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