Volunteers wanted to restore lifeboat

The former coxswain of Bembridge RNLI is looking for volunteers to help paint one of its old lifeboats, the ‘Langham’.

Martin Woodward is chairman of the IoW Historic Lifeboat Trust, with the ‘Langham’ (1922-1939) based at Arreton Cross. He served with the Lifeboat for 38 years, and said: “I have given it the annual ‘scrub off and clean’ from top to bottom and it now looks much better without the winter dirt and mildew.

“However, it needs some painting, filling and TLC. If anyone is at a loose end and would like to join a small group to make the boat look more presentable again.

“I know everyone is busy with their own lives, but many local family names served as crew on this boat, so I am hoping we can get a bit of help. It is too big a task for just me and one other, and I am still diving/working, so would appreciate any help, however little.
“Paint and materials supplied. The lifeboat is still owned by our IoW Historic Lifeboat Trust, along with the ‘Queen Victoria’ (1887) and ‘Jesse Lumb’ (1939), but the ‘Langham’ unfortunately has no home inside for display and our funds are minimal.”

Martin can be contacted at the museum 533079 or offmarine@aol.com.