Sheringham Shantymen

When we decided a few years ago to raise funds for a lifeboat we had no idea where it would be stationed. To learn that it would be in Wicklow Ireland during their 150th anniversary celebrations made it a very special occasion. So, on Saturday 13 October 2007 the Shantymen were in Wicklow, Ireland for the Naming Ceremony and Dedication of the new D Class Lifeboat, RNLB Sheringham Shantymen. The £25,000 inshore lifeboat is mostly used during daylight hours and in moderate weather conditions to respond to callouts in the local area manned with a crew of 2/3 persons. Being light and very shallow draught it can be used in surf or shallow, confined locations reaching them quickly travelling at a top speed of 25knots. The lifeboat is also equipped with a GPS navigator/plotter, VHF radio and First Aid Equipment. The Sheringham Shantymen supports a "Tyne" class all weather lifeboat "Anne Lydia Blaker". On arriving at the Wicklow Lifeboat station for the ceremony that began at 1430hrs the weather was cool and overcast but as the first note of the National Anthem was played the sun came out and lit the event with a lazy glow. A number of local and national RNLI dignitaries spoke to invited guests, VIPs and several hundred local Wicklow residents that had assembled on the picturesque quayside. Brian Farrow, not only the Shantymen musical director but also Sheringham Lifeboat Operations Manager delivered the Lifeboat into the care of the RNLI, while just prior to the new lifeboat putting to sea it was named "Sheringham Shantymen" by Bob Hawkins the chairman of Sheringham Shantymen. The whole ceremony was extremely well organised, but was so much more interesting for so timely Irish humour when the chairman of the Wicklow Fundraising Team on giving her note of thanks, addressed to the VIPs as "extinguished guests" and as I poured the champagne on the boat while naming her, a small dog appeared under it and quickly began enjoying the drink.

Having said that, it was a day tinged with sadness as we had learnt on arriving in Dublin on the Friday of the untimely death of our dear friend and Shantyman Mike Pigott. Our thoughts are with his loved ones and family. Needless to say the day was ended with the Shantymen singing on the quayside and later in the evening at Wicklow Sailing Club.

As or singing season slows us down it gives us time to concentrate on rehearsing new songs and sharpening up the ones already learnt. As I mentioned last time we had move over to The Lobster for our Thursday evening meetings and rehearsal. That has again changed and we are now meeting in Oddfellows Hall on Lifeboat Plain, Sheringham, still on a Thursday where bookings allow, so if you are in the area from about 8.45pm you are more than welcome to drop in and see us. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Sheringham Shantymen to thank Graham and his team at The Lobster for his hospitality and giving us the space to meet and sing.

Finally, we will be singing at the Sheringham Christmas lights switch on, on Sunday 25 November. You can see where we are performing next by logging onto www.shantymen.com and following the links to the gig list.
Bob Hawkins, Chairman, and Sheringham Shantymen

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