On Thursday August 13th, our Group 8 Chairman – Jim Mason – received a call from a friend that he used to fish with……..
……“I run an annual charity fishing day for kids, it’s in two weeks time, and this year we have more children than fishing rods – can you possibly help?”
Having then added more detail, we now know that this is a children’s “fishing competition”, hosted by Jason Parrot, an active member of Ramsgate Lifeboat crew, a tenacious fund raiser, and a man that really endeavours to make a difference within his community. Jason has hosted this competition for 10 years and the participation has grown each year, to the point where this year 84 children will be setting sail from Ramsgate with the intention being the one that catches the most, and the biggest fish.
Jason’s expectations for this year was that 70 children would participate, but the event is gathering such pace that an extra 14 applications were received and thus, an extra 14 fishing rods and reels were needed.
The way that Jason (with the unwavering support of his wife, Dawn) pulls this day together is nothing short of amazing. Flambeau Europe (a plastic injection moulding company with a hub in Ramsgate) literally make a fishing tackle box for every child, Caterpillar (who incidentally make the diesel engines that power the Ramsgate Tamar class lifeboat) supply every participant with a rucksack containing a “safety at sea” book and other information on how to act should you find yourself in trouble at sea, or if you see someone else in that situation. Local boat owners give their time, their fuel, and their fishing expertise, and the Ramsgate Lifeboat crew (not all of them !!) give their time to ensure that every child has a day to remember.
The payback for this is ingenious: To enter, each child agrees to get sponsored – with all of the raised funds going back to the RNLI, and so classmates, friends, and family all contribute, with some children even doing sponsored walks, silences, and even household chores to maximise their contribution. But more than this, the fishing day also includes a significant education about safety on, and around the water. The Lifeboat crew at Ramsgate have no doubt that this education saves lives – without the need to launch a lifeboat.
To answer Jason’s call, the Ramsgate Masonic Lodges joined forces, were pleased to pool resources for the fourteen outstanding fishing rods and reels – and with the assistance of several Amazon delivery drivers, were able to assemble at the Ramsgate RNLI station to present our collective donation to a very relieved Jason and Dawn. We were then unexpectedly treated to a tour of the Lifeboat station and the two lifeboats that answer over 100 calls per year.
There are 45 lifeboat crew at Ramsgate, but only seven can crew the off-shore Tamar class lifeboat, and only four on the B Class inshore RIB, so it is very much a first come, first served affair. Coxswain Ian Cannon, and Mechanic Ryan are the only two “paid” members of the crew with every other volunteer having to either live or work within an eight minute radius of the station. The inshore Class B lifeboat lives indoors and is winched into the water in a matter of seconds – with a top speed of almost 40 knots, it can deliver assistance reaching from Kingsgate to Sandwich. The Tamar Class all weather lifeboat is moored next to the RNLI station and is kept in a state of permanent readiness. Seven crew operate this hi-tech craft and the navigators will have already plotted a course before the boat has even left the harbour. The two 18litre Caterpillar engines power the craft to 27 knots – which given that the Ramsgate station covers the notorious Goodwin Sands – must be of comfort to those who may require its services.
But the boats are simply the vehicles that enable the Lifeboat crew to save lives. Listening to stories of call outs in a strong north-easterly with high seas and limited visibility makes you grateful for the courage and commitment of these volunteers, and living where we do, we should all be thankful for the time and personal sacrifice that they each give to our community.
Special thanks go to Coxswain Ian, Mechanic Ryan, Crew members Simon, Liam, Sophie, and Neil, and especially Jason and Dawn for saving lives – not only at sea, but through early education whilst enjoying a day out fishing.
