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PICTURE GALLERY: Whitby Lifeboat enjoys a great weekend
WHITBY Lifeboat is hoping to raise in the region of £8,000 after another successful Lifeboat Weekend.
Crowds lined The Bandstand area to take in a number of stalls and three lifeboats – The George and Mary Webb, the inshore OEM Stone and William Riley – were on view to the public.
A exciting display involving lifeboats from Staithes, Runswick Bay and Whitby rescuing volunteers in capsized dinghies demonstrated part of the charity's work.
The annual Blessing of the Boats ceremony on the Fish Pier conducted by the Bishop of Whitby, The Rt Rev Martin Warner and the Rector of Whitby, Canon David Smith, took place on Sunday afternoon.
Many people attended the service and crowds of visitors on the west side of the harbour stopped to listen and look on.
At the end of the service the guests were invited into the lifeboat station for refreshments and a chance to look around.
Coxswain Michael Russell and second coxswain Nick Botham invited the Bishop on board the George and Mary Webb, where mechanic Glenn Goodberry explained many features of the Trent class boat to him.
The bishop was also invited to the upper steering position where Mike and Nick explained steering and handling of the boat before going for a short trip to sea where the Bishop was given the chance to steer the boat under the watchful eyes of both coxswains.
During the ceremony the Staithes Lifeboat received a real life call-out to safely escort a boat with a damaged engine from Staithes to Runswick Bay.
Canon Smith thought both days went well.
"I think with the recession affecting a lot of people, 8,000 is very good," he said.
"We felt the blessing went really well, the Bishop enjoyed himself with the ceremony being his first since being concecrated."
Mr Russell was also pleased with the weekend which attracted a good crowd despite Saturday's rain.
He added: "Unfortunately, the Sea King helicopter couldn't make it due to operational problems, but people still seem to have enjoyed themselves.
"There are a lot of people involved with the display and collecting for us and I'd like to say a big thank you to all our helpers.
"Without them we couldn't do our job."
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Weather for Whitby
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
