A common question!
We have often been asked during the appeal for the new Caister lifeboat what will become of the Bernard Matthews when the new lifeboat takes over? The Directors and crew were always aware that the lifeboat would need to be sold, ideally to some organisation that would use it as a lifeboat or some form of patrol vessel, however at the start of the appeal we could not have invisaged what was about to transpire during the past four months, and now forms yet another chapter in the story of the lifeboats at Caister. The pictures included here were taken on the 8th January 2005 when the Bernard Matthews left Caister.

About to leave picture Anthony Benson

A proud Coxswain Dick Thurlow

The Blyth Lifeboat.
During July 2004 the Seaferers in Northumberland mounted a protest against the cost-cutting withdrawal of the lifeboat from Blyth. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) insisted lives would not be put at risk by the withdrawal of the all-weather vessel The Windsor Runner at Blyth. Like Caister some years before the locals at Blyth and the surrounding valley had grave concerns at this move and sought to organise an independent fundraising organisation following in their proud tradition of lifesaving dating from 1790 and place an independent volunteer lifeboat on station in the same way that Caister had done in 1969.

Negotiations.
As you will see elsewhere on this website our new jet propelled lifeboat arrived in August 2004 and was put on station one month later. Our appeal continues with the aim of recovering our reserves and financing the operation for the coming year. Insurance forms one of our major annual costs therfore housing a functional lifeboat securely undercover, when not in use, makes little sense, so the directors and crew made arrangements to sell the lifeboat in October. The newly formed Blyth Volunteer Lifeboat Service (BVLS) contacted CVLS with the aim of purchasing the Bernard Matthews, negotiations, visits and trials were to follow and the final transfer took place in mid January 2005. All parties are pleased with the outcome, CVLS has successfully sold the lifeboat recovering the funds and removing the need for insurance of a vessel no longer in active use, whilst seeing the lifeboat they have cherished remain with its original intent, that of an active lifeboat. Recently, following its departure from Caister on the 8th January The Bernard Matthews has been fully serviced by Goodchild Marine and the underside repainted with anti-foul paint, since the lifeboat will stay in the water from its arrival at Blyth, they will not need to launch from the beach as we do.

A splendid vessel.
The Bernard Matthews Lifeboat remains a splendid vessel with at least 105 people who can lay testiment to that fact and there are some disadvantages in moving to the faster more upto date boat, mainly to do with enclosed accomodation of casualties. But our overiding thought in going for the new lifeboat has always been that we must get there fast if we are going to be in with a chance of saving life, and this was certainly the aim of the Valentijn 2000 designer David Stogden. The march of technology in boat design and safety means that the potential exists to enable the crew to increase their already impressive rescue success rate. The Valantijn 2000 class has a proven track record in the North sea with many Dutch stations operating them along the length of their coastline, to date we have every confidence that we have made the right decision.

A new name.
The former Caister lifeboat, is to be called the Spirit of Blyth and Wansbeck whilst Caister will retain the name The Bernard Matthews since Bernard remains one of our most loyal supporters. The new Lifeboat, as yet, remains un-named, and at present no particular name is under consideration. We intend to organise a naming ceremony during the summer of this year when the weather will be better for all who wish to attend.

Pleased with Public response.
It has been a major fundraising effort during the past 18 months and we were unsuccessful in our bid for a lottery grant, a major setback, but we have continued undaunted, we are so pleased with the support we have recieved from the public not just locally, but nationally and in some cases beyond. What has been achieved at Caister is undoubtedly a major success story. It is a little known fact that CVLS consists of around 30 individuals, all commited volunteers, with various ages, backgrounds, trades and professions all with one purpose in mind, that of maintaining the best lifeboat service possible at Caister. In its short history the new lifeboat has saved the life of one jet- skier and assisted in other search and rescue missions, who knows what the future holds?