RNLI Salcombe Volunteer Family celebrate two special members of the team

Jeanne’s enthusiasm and customer service skills, together with her uncanny knack for selecting items that often flew off the shelves, meant she was always going to make a difference.

Equipped with a natural sparkle and ever-present sense of humour, Jeanne ensured volunteers enjoyed their work. Her diligence, especially during the refitting of the museum and shop, and knowledge of RNLI has been reflected in the design of the premises. Something from which we have all come to benefit in subsequent years.

Her cheerfulness and vigour were infectious. This was especially helpful when faced with the occasional adverse circumstance. In particular, on many a cold, windy – and often rainy – occasion spent wrestling with fundraising pop-up stalls. Jeanne’s personality proved exceptionally helpful, always managing to keep the team positive and focused, even if she couldn’t keep them warm and dry!

Behind the scenes, Jeanne was also accustomed to putting in extensive hours outside shop opening times, counting stock, placing orders, and checking deliveries and, despite living a fair distance outside of Salcombe, she was always on hand to help should problems arise.

Sam Viles, (Sammers) who after seventeen-year service is stepping down. We shared Sams story recently but, on the day, he left us with this thought.

Senses

As a Lifeboat crew you get to know every well-known sense and a few lesser known.

Let me explain.

- Taste, you need a taste for adventure. The taste of salt is unavoidable. What you do not need is the taste of last night’s dinner, but there we go.

- Smell, there is a wonderful smell on a hot summer’s day in the middle of the English Channel, those lucky enough to experience it will know. However, there are plenty of other smells, but it is all part of the package.

- Touch, but let’s say feel, I have felt every emotion aboard the lifeboat or at the station and especially while on the VHF radio.

- Hear, I’ve heard fear, happiness, sadness, thankfulness, gratefulness, harsh words, and praise. But nothing sounds like a Tyne class lifeboat burbling away.

- Sight. My eyes have seen things I won’t forget, some good, some that will haunt me forever. But I have also seen a crew do things together that no one should have to, all for a stranger that needs help and that is what will always happen here in Salcombe.

- That is 5 so the next one is naturally the 6th sense. As Coxswain, leaving the safety and warmth of your bed to go to sea in a gale of wind over a breaking Bar into the dark of the Channel you need to be at one with the lifeboat and your crew. Knowing when to push hard but also when to stop.

- The final one. A sense of humour; don’t come to sea with me if you have left yours at home. Something I do as a coping mechanism is play the fool. Laughter heals many things on that boat, but it is only a sticking plaster. Being part of a fantastic lifeboat crew, family and community is the cure.

Thank you and goodbye.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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