Both Exmouth lifeboats launch on service as boat jumble sale starts

Solent Coastguard tasked both Exmouth lifeboats to search for a missing person in the river Exe, near Imperial Recreation ground this morning, Sunday 7th April.

Inshore D class lifeboat George Bearman II launched at 9.17am and Shannon class lifeboat R and J Welburn launched at 9.26am.

Crew volunteers, members of the public and the Community Safety team were busy setting up stalls; the Fundraising Events team were making bacon baps and hot drinks to raise money to help save lives at sea, when the call for assistance came through. 19 stall holders had given a donation of £10 each to sell their boat and watersport jumble, filling both boat halls and lined the esplanade along the seafront. Devon and Somerset Fire Service attended with their engine, Exmouth Coastguard had also been tasked to search, so could not attend.

The three-hour event raised over £1,600. Organiser and Deputy Coxswain, Roger Jackson spent over two weeks arranging collections in the community, following the appeal for jumble. Of the total, over £800 was raised by selling generous donations.

Photo: Exmouth RNLI

The Community Safety Team checked 10 lifejackets, condemning three unfit for purpose. Shop volunteers were busy, taking £477.45 – the highest daily figure this year. The last time a boat jumble sale was held five years ago, £1,006 was raised.

Roger Jackson praised the volunteers:‘What a great event! We haven’t had this event for five years and it’s so touching of the generosity of people. We had some wonderful donations and I would like to thank everybody who kindly donated jumble to us, as well as supporting the day. A massive thank you to all involved.’

Both lifeboats were stood down, together with Teignmouth RNLI, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Beer, Police and Coastguard helicopters at around midday, but no was casualty found.