BURNHAM-ON-SEA’S RNLI Lifeboat Station has released its weather-permitting schedule for launch dates throughout October. The scheduled launches enable volunteers to undertake practice exercises at sea. 

The launches will take place at either 19.30pm on Wednesdays, or 9am on Sundays. The following dates in October are scheduled for launches: Wednesday, October 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30. The launches will also take place on Sunday 20 and 27.

The latest lifeboat launch from the RNLI station at Burnham-on-Sea took place on September 9 in response to a report of a paraglider in difficulties at sea. Eleven volunteers arrived ready to launch, but were stood down by Coastguard control. The incident was redefined as a false call with good intent. The lifeboat station at Burnham was established in 1836, and the current station was opened in 2003. It operates two inshore lifeboats.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the RNLI. The charity, with relies solely on volunteers, was founded by Sir William Hillary in Bishopsgate’s trendy City of London Tavern on 4 March 1824. Living in Douglas on the Isle of Man, Hillary saw the treacherous nature of the sea first-hand. He witnessed dozens of shipwrecks around the Manx coast and saved many lives with the help of locals.

Later in the century and closer to home, in March 1897, the Norweigen vessel, the SS Nornen, wrecked at Berrow. A lifeboat was launched from Burnham-on-Sea RNLI station, where it successfully managed to save those onboard. The wreck of the vessel remains in the sand at Berrow.

The RNLI’s advice is: “If you find yourself in an emergency situation or spot someone else in trouble, you should call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard. If you are inland and see someone in difficulty on the water, be it on a river or a lake, you should ask for Fire and Rescue when you call for help.”