Inspirarational post

http://lifeboatscrapbook.blogspot.co.uk/2007/03/inspiration.html This post contains a review of my choice for the 'inspirational blog'. I have chosen a section of a blog/scrapbook posted by LIFEBOATJOHN from March 2007. Just by basically searching through Google I stumbled by pure luck upon this fantastic blog by a crewman from one of Britain's busiest lifeboat stations - Swanage. There are a number of reasons why I chose this particular blog. Firstly, being a crewman with the RNLI I find it very interesting at how other stations across Britain perform in their roles, while secondly, I find myself comparing callouts to our own down in Burry Port, in number and in severity. As soon as I read the first paragraph of this post I knew that I could relate with the author in terms of his love for the ocean, the outdoors and being part of this 'Band of Brothers', a term that he labels his fellow crewmen in a post that follows this one. Very much like John, when I tell people that I am a crewmember with the Lifeboat the reply is usually either one of two - "Oh well done" or "Why"? In regard to the first, it is obviously nice to receive praise for being a volunteer, and I do get a sense of achievement when commended for it. However, when asked 'why', which I actually have a number of times, I find myself wondering to myself 'why' I would be asked such a question! My response is always the truth, and that is that I thoroughly enjoy it! This particular post of mine is quite difficult to write because it is not so much a review of the content, because the post is basically part of a scrapbook about a year in Swanage, but more of a reflection on the performance and history of the RNLI and the admiration that I hold for my fellow colleagues. I am extremely embarrassed to admit, especially being a historian and crewmember, that my knowledge of possibly the most famous rescue the RNLI has ever carried out, was very limited until I read this blog! The post is of course based on the 100th anniversary of the unbelievable heroics of the crewmen of The Lizard, Cadgwith, Coverack and Porthleven who all launched to aid the stricken vessel - S.S. Suevic. As mentioned I had a very limited knowledge of the incident, but had NO idea of the amount of lives saved on that day. So I'm sure anyone who didn't know of the facts and reads this blog by John will be like me be absolutely astonished as to how these crewmen managed to successfully rescue all 456 souls on board without there being a single loss of life in such atrocious conditions is beyond belief! I literally found myself after reading the blog searching through Google for accounts, facts and written stories of the rescue. I'm so glad that I stumbled upon this blog and having the opportunity to share it with others, while also, and quite embarrassingly, educating myself on the story! Cheers, Oliver