I was not surprised to learn that there would be not Post Box this year.
It so happened that I had been reading the latest copy of Godfrey’s R.N.L.I magazine, he has been interested in the RNLI for some time. Once we had a collection box in the shape of a lifeboat. He had also done collecting for them, on one occasion it was extremely wet but he still went out complete with wearing a yellow S’wester (rain-hat) I did not know he had one .
All I knew about the R.NL.I was that when I was very young and living in Margate, I would hear the siren go off and my mother telling me it meant the ‘lifeboat’ was going out and a number of people would rush down to the harbour to watch it, very difficult now because the crews all have their own pagers.
Remembering all of this reminded me of the ‘Statue of a Lifeboatman’ looking out to sea which proudly stands off the coast not far from Margate railway station but I did not know the reason for it.
I decided to contact my nephew Stephen who lives in Margate and he was able to let me have a copy of the Margate Civic Society’s magazine within there is an article about it.. I am including an extract which I hope you will enjoy, it is entitled “Disaster At Sea ‘friend To All Nations’”
Built by White’s of Cowes, the surfboat Friend to All Nations could be launched by four men without using horses and arrived in Margate to a grand procession on 6 July 1878.
In December 1890 she rescued six men from the Ville de Paris off the Nayland Rock during a blizzard. The cyclone during the night of 1st December 1897 all but destroyed Margate: ‘Huge slabs of masonry were hurled along the torn up surface of the promenade as waves cut six feet into the structure. Chaos reigned and ruin was rampant as coastal defences, buildings and roadways were washed away. Dense volumes of seawater flooded the streets and locals rowed boats along King Street (behind the Harbour) under the spray from masses of water being thrown as high as the lighthouse. The decking of the jetty was torn away, its iron piles dislodged and thrown, as if by giants’ hands, on to the shore.’
Flares at sea from the Persian Queen were seen and at 5.20am the 13 boatmen on the Friend launched into the surf — 10 minutes ahead of the RNLI Quiver. They were caught in a sudden squall whilst lowering the sail and seawater quickly filled the boat and sailcloth, causing serious listing. A further wave keeled the boat over, trapping Joseph Epps underneath and throwing the rest into the freezing water. The capsized boat later drifted ashore to rest beneath the Nayland Rock. Four men had been washed ashore alive, but Charles Troughton of the Margate Ambulance Corps collapsed and died on reaching land.
Some 20 men were required to turn the boat over and miraculously Joseph Epps had survived — he lived to age 93, dying in 1931. The missing were gradually recovered from the sea over the following days and their grave is to be found in St John’s Churchyard.
Copyright Margate Civic Society
This all made me wonder what could be done in place of the Post Box. I spoke to Marion who contacted the committee and we decided nothing could be done before Christmas . We will not be having a collection but use some money the treasurer had accrued in the bank. So it was decided that we would send £75.00 to the R.N.L.I Margate Station early in February 2021. Should anyone wish to boost this amount by a small amount we would be very grateful but please do not feel obliged to in any way.
I wonder if some of you have see the programme on the television? I have certainly had my eyes opened by them and the magazine. What a splendid job they do at anytime day or night in storms stc. So many Stations all around our coasts. So much training is given to the teams and also the lifeguards and since the terrible Pleasure Boat disaster a station is now on the Thames and has already saved many in distress.
John Sinclair is happy to receive any contribution , no obligation at all.
As the December and January magazines are joined I hope to be able to get a reminder in the February one, that first week in February 2021 as Sylvia wants to send the money off the the RNLI.
So with no delivery of cards and other circumstances making things difficult Godfrey and I would like through these pages to wish everyone the best possible ‘family Christmas gathering’, knowing that there are ways of connecting except the very thing really is to give and receive a ‘ HUG’- keep your fingers crossed though rules are being changed so quickly one cannot tell. We will be thinking of you all and remember the real reason we celebrate at this time.
We wish everyone a safe journey through the pandemic with the hope of everything being resolved soon and we can all look forward to 2021 with renewed hope.
Happy Christmas
Beattie and Godfrey