Lunch Time meeting - Roger Grundy, Lifeboats administrator and Visits officer Anstruther

On Thursday 5^th April 2018 in the absence of President Lindsay Roy, SVP Anne Sampson took the chair as she welcomed 15 Rotarians, guest speaker Roger Grundy and his wife Fiona souvenir secretary to our lunch time meeting which was held at the Gilvenbank Hotel.

On reception were Peter May with Archie Lawrie saying grace.

As a reminder for members our meeting on the 19^thApril will be at the Glenrothes Foodbank.

Our speaker this week was Roger Grundy an Architect by profession and Visitor and admin officer from RNLI,  Anstruther. His presentation was supported with a PowerPoint and a powerful video presentation. The lifeboat station, founded in 1865, presently has an All-Weather Lifeboat the 12 metre Mersey Class Fast Carriage Boat, "Kingdom of Fife" and a inshore-operating IB1 class inflatable which has served the station since 1991 which is housed in the boathouse and launched from a carriage at the slip or within the harbour depending upon tide conditions. Lifeboats at Dunbar, North Berwick, South Queensferry and Kinghorn, together with Anstruther, provide cover for the entrance to the Firth of Forth and adjacent North Sea. Since the foundation of the RNLI in 1824 its lifeboat crews have saved over 140,000 lives. Since 1865 Anstruther has been served by 7 different boats and in 2020 a new boat will be introduced at a cost of £2 ½ million. Clarification was given on how the Coastguard coordinate and the Lifeboat action the operation with their being a nine-minute turnaround from the call by the coastguard to the launch of the boat.

Anstruther Lifeboat Station is one of the few RNLI "explorer" stations; a station available to the public to visit for most of the year. Displays and films illustrate the history and work of the RNLI and there's a hands-on experience for the children. The balcony provides a close-up view of the lifeboat (when it's home and not out on operations) Visits can be arranged around the Lifeboat Station. Please contact Roger Grundy phone 01333 312447 or email r.grundy@zen.co.uk

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man as well as on some inland waterways. There are numerous other lifeboat services operating in the same area.

Founded in 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, the RNLI was granted a Royal Charter in 1860 and is a charity in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Queen Elizabeth II is Patron. The RNLI is principally funded by legacies and donations with most lifeboat crew members being unpaid volunteers. The RNLI has 237 lifeboat stations and operates 444 lifeboats. Crews rescued on average 22 people a day in 2015. RNLI Lifeguards operate on more than 200 beaches. They are paid by local authorities, while the RNLI provides equipment and training. The Institution operates Flood Rescue Teams (FRT) nationally and internationally (iFRT), the latter prepared to travel to emergencies overseas at short notice.

Considerable effort is put into training and education by the Institution, particularly for young people; more than 6,000 children a week are spoken to by education volunteers about sea and beach safety, and over 800 children a week receive training. The Institution has saved some 140,000 lives since its foundation, at a cost of more than 600 lives lost in service.

The Rotary vote of thanks was given by Alistair McLeod.

The next meeting will be a lunch time meeting to be held on the 12^th April 2018 at the Gilvenbank Hotel. Please meet 12.45pm for starting at 12.55pm, no speaker this week as the meeting will be dedicated to the club’s AGM and Council Reports where members will get an update from Council chairs regarding ongoing projects. On reception will be Peter May and Ron Page.

If you were interested in joining or supporting the community and international projects get in touch by Private message on The Rotary Club of Glenrothes Facebook page. You will be made most welcome.