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| The Mayoral and RNLI party on board the Lifeboat en route to Calshot. Mayor centre with chain of office. Far right Rear Admiral John Tolhurst, Chairman RNLI Operations Committee, and second right Bryan Loughlin, Operations Manger, Calshot RNLI station. |
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80 years of Calshot based sea rescue services for the Solent and Southampton Water was celebrated on Saturday 29 September in a joint event between the RNLI and the Mayor of Southampton.
The days’ events started at 11.15 with a short Service of Thanksgiving held at Holyrood Church Southampton, led by the Rev. Ian Johnson, Rector of Southampton.
In his welcoming remarks the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Stephen Barnes-Andrews, recognised the tremendous work that had been done by sea rescue services in Soputhampton over the last 80 years and expressed his pleasure at being asked to join the 80th anniversary celebrations.
Following the service the Mayor boarded the RNLI Calshot All Weather Lifeboat ‘Sarah Emily Harrop ' for the journey down Southampton Water to the Lifeboat station at Calshot. The Mayor was accompanied by Rear Admiral John Tolhurst, Chairman of the RNLI’s Operations Committee, and by Maldwin Drummond, Life Vice President of the RNLI.
During the passage to Calshot the Mayor, in his capacity of Admiral of the Port, conducted the historic ceremony of ‘Beating the Bounds’ of Southampton and a commemorative wreath was laid on the water.
Ken Thornber, leader Hampshire County Council, formally greeted the party as it arrived at Calshot. In his remarks Councillor Thornber paid tribute to the excellent work that the RNLI at Calshot does for the people of Hampshire and he observed that there was no better role model for the youngsters who visit the Caslhot activity centre than the presence of a Lifeboat station. A series of commemorative presentations were made followed by a reception to which both past members of the Lifeboat crew and former RAF personnel who had served at Calshot had been invited.
Since the 1920s the RAF maintained a station at Calshot which was the home of their Seaplane Training Unit and Marine Craft Training Unit. In 1927 the capabilities of the Marine Craft Training Unit were expanded and thereafter the station was able to provide search and rescue services to the Solent. After the closure of the RAF base, the RNLI established a Lifeboat Station at Calshot in 1971 and which has grown to be one of the busiest stations in the country. |
