General Chat

i agree some people put themselves in serious positions in the first place.if the seas rough you know not to go out in itxxxx(:

I work in St Ives Cornwall, right on the sea front and often see the men going out on a "shout". These are all working men, who are summoned by rocket - one for inshore rescue, two for offshore. These men have eight minutes MAXIMUM to leave their work, run through the heaving crowds, don their kit , get aboard and launch the lifeboat, which at low tide has to be dragged to the water by tractor - they usually do it in five. They can be out for many hours and for this they receive the princely sum of, I think, eleven pounds for a shout. They go out after boneheads on lilos, drunks in rowing boats, fishermen who have been washed off rocks, cliff climbers who choose to ignore warning signs and people who think the red flags dont apply to them. They bring back suicides, bodies lost at sea and so on, then they go back to their "real" work. I watched them when we lost a local fishing boat some years ago, they came home after many many hours of fruitless searching and their exhaustion and despair is something I will never forget. Recently, a holiday-maker complained bitterly at the noise the rockets make when they go off, frightening the birds! why cant they telephone these men, she said, theres no need for all that noise. As to funding - charge the people who have been rescued, those who choose to ignore the fact that the sea is a dangerous place,perhaps a few high-profile court cases would make SOME people think first anyway.

god no dont let it be government run or theyll bring in new rules, laws and probably tax the guys that do such a good jo. lifeboat crews and coastguards could do with loads of help financially from government, but the mps wont do that will they it would be too simple to agree to fund it .

Apparently it is the choice of the RNLI to be independent of Govt. Rose

i think it's not right baz.the goverment has a moral duty to stick there hands in their pockets and help save livesxxxx(:

Hi, My father's family were lifeboatmen back to the 1850s when the first boats were bought, usually by public subscription. The work today is a lot different, but no less dangerous, from what it was then. Originally in Dad's home town it was fishermen saving other fishermen the majority of the time so they were glad to do it. There are too many "Lost at sea" on my tree. Now most of the work of the RNLI is saving those who sail for pleasure or unsupervised kids drifting out on inflatables. I think that pleasure boat owners should insure themselves then the RNLI can charge for the rescue - and be paid by insurers. If these brave men are prepared to risk their lives the least those who may need them can do is insure themselves so that the lifeboat men do not have to beg for money from anyone. The NHS charge for their services following a road accident I think the RNLI should do the same. Gwynne

I think they should deifinatley get some sort of official funding. There are too many things these days having to have donations from the public and fundraising. If the government can get money just like that for a war in Irag, amongst many other causes that are total nonsense I'm damn sure they can find it for things we need here and now. Diane

there all heros and unfortunetly some have lost their lives to help others and people should remember that.i feel the lottery grants can sometimes benifit the community like to inner cities and schools.but what about saving lives through researching diseases and saving people from certain death.it made my blood boil when they gave the royal opera house a grant of one hundred million pounds .be honest would we ever go there to see that.no.so who's it really benefittingxxxxx(:

brian i do aswell.as it's a worthy cause.if they didn't have public support many lives would be lostxxxx(:

There's no chance of public money: the Coastguard has been cut, rescue helicopters have been withdrawn, HMG thinks it's too expensive to preserve life. On the other hand it might be that the RNLI is happy to be independent and not have to plead with ministers and find its funds cut off when the Chancellor's short of a bob or two. As an occasional sailor I am happy to donate to the RNLI and give them every credit for the job they do.

don't really know but is the=R.N.L.I run on donations.watched a programme last night about the coastguard and the R.N.L.I and how they risk there lives to save others in all sorts of weathers.i know that the men are volunteersbut i think they should have a wage for doing such a dangerous job.i feel the same about research .cancer research is funded by donations but do they get goverment support.the lottery money should play some part in research into illness and the people should have some sort of say to state thatxxxxx(: