Solent Rescue Partners

John Lewis writes:

The recent appeal by the Solent Rescue lifeboat crew for funds to repair their damaged boat has been answered thanks to the staff at John Lewis in Southampton.

A fire broke out on the Solent Rescue’s only lifeboat in July during a rescue mission to save an upturned catamaran. News of their plight soon spread to John Lewis at Southampton who waded in to help meet the total, and now repairs are finally underway.

Daily Echo writes:

A LIFEBOAT crew left high and dry by a fire on its only craft while responding to an emergency has had its own distress call answered by a Hampshire department store.

Solent Rescue's boat has been out of action since July because of damage caused by the blaze during an operation to save an overturned catamaran.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the Lepe-based crew appealed for help in raising the thousands of pounds needed to get their craft shipshape again.

Since the electrical fire, the trained team of rescuers has endured a frustrating two months stuck on dry land.

However, staff at John Lewis in Southampton have now waded in to offer their support, providing £11,000 to help get the boat back on the water.

Solent Rescue's senior coxswain, Ian Blomquist, said that he is delighted with the donation, which has allowed the crew to buy a new, more efficient and less polluting engine.

"They have saved our lives and probably those of others as well," he said.

Daily Echo writes:

A RESCUE boat is back in action 12 months after a blaze broke out as it answered an emergency call.

Solent Rescue One went to the aid of a capsized catamaran last summer and was attempting to pull the boat upright when its engine burst into flames.
Now the 22ft craft is back in business after a £10,000 donation towards the coast of repairs.

Champagne corks popped at the Solent Rescue headquarters at Lepe as the volunteer lifesavers celebrated the boat’s return to action station thanks to John Lewis Southampton, which provided the cash.
Solent Rescue, which receives up to 60 call-outs a year, was without its one and only lifeboat for almost a year.

Trainee coxswain Cameron Critchfield said: “The replacement engine came from Italy. The boat also needed a new prop shaft, which is a specialist job, and a new water jet, which also came from Italy.”
The 25-year old craft was able to resume its duties after successfully completing sea trials.

Mr Critchfield added: “It’s brilliant. We can do the job we want to do – and it’s marvellous to see the look of relief on people’s faces when we arrive.”

Kate Walker, who was working at John Lewis Southampton at the time, said “The incident was report in the Daily Echo and the company decided to donate £10,000 for a replacement engine. We felt Solent Rescue was a very worthy cause.”

Repairs were completed just in time for Cowes Week, one of the busiest times for inshore lifeboats in the Solent area. Ian Blomquist, Solent Rescue’s senior coxswain, said the craft carried out 15 rescues during the first three days of the famous regatta. During the boat’s refit, call-outs were answered by lifeboats based at Gosport, Cowes and Hamble.