Dursley and District Ladies Probus Club

MEMBERS were welcomed by Judy Golding, our vice president.

Members have been invited to join the men’s probus on July 24 for Lunch and to hear on talk on “10 things to save in a fire”.

Members were reminded that the subs of £25 are due now.

The speaker was John Barnett whose spoke about the RNLI, and their lifeboats around Britain and Ireland and on rivers.

The organisation was founded in 1824 by Sir William Hillary after 121 fishermen were drowned in Douglas Bay on the Isle of Mann.

The Royal Warrant was received in 1854.

At first rowing boats were used in rescues but now the RNLI has 2 types of craft - all weather lifeboats, inshore lifeboats that can work in shallow water.

Most of the crews are volunteers but with one technician as a paid member. Crews these days are both men and women, though originally they were all male with women providing valuable service in getting the boat launched.

The most fatalities are not from storms but from coastal walking and getting cut off by the tide.

Cold water shock is the greatest cause of death Funding comes from public donations – it costs £20,000 an hour to operate the service.

The RNLI also co-operates internationally as most deaths by drowning are in Asia and Africa.

The next meeting is on August 7 when Paul Evans will entertain with poems, monologues etc.