THIS year’s Bude Lifeboat Weekend over the August Bank Holiday (August 24 to 26) must surely have been one of the most memorable ever, writes Christine Williams.

The wonderful weather and the thousands of locals and visitors contributed to the family friendly atmosphere of almost non-stop music, entertainment, fun and excitement.

The weekend began on Saturday with charity table top sales and refreshments in the marquee, Bude Metric Brass playing in front of the bandstand and traditional Cornish songs from Friggin Riggin followed in the evening by a quiz. The music continued on Sunday with entertainment from ‘Cousin Jack’, a lively children’s disco in the marquee followed by ‘Songs of Praise’ led by Father David Barnes and Bude Town Band on the Barkhouse Green. The day ended with a concert choir in the marquee by the renowned Mevagissey Male Voice with Adrian Wilton as compere.

Bank Holiday Monday was the busiest of the three days and appropriately began at the lifeboat station where visitors could see the reason for the whole event: Bude’s three rescue craft. There was an opportunity to talk with some of the 30 volunteers and learn a little of what they do. Chris Wilson, Bude RNLI Lifeboat operations manager, said their most recent rescue was at Widemouth where on August 2 a swimmer was in difficulty and exactly a year ago a family of four were rescued having been caught by the tide.

The canal became a focus of entertainment with rowing races in the morning followed by Bude Canoe Club’s canoe polo tournament and local groups taking part in water sports challenges and a capsize and rescue demonstration. Meanwhile at the Bude Light the sound of pipes and drums came from the impressive Bideford Youth Pipe Band, once again Bude Metric Brass, vocal group ‘Bit O’ Luck’ (Dick and Anne Dingle) and Ashwater Community Steel Band entertained at the bandstand and in the evening Gordan Zola and the Yargbirds. In addition Angelique Medland provided a lot of fun with her blindfold pottery challenge and there was a pasty competition at the Brendon Arms. A Rotary International duck race took place on the River Neet and at various times four local dance groups: LBD KREW, URBN StreetZ, CJ’s Community dancers led by Zoe Reeves and Jade Bale and Jason Thomas Performing Arts entertained. Other attractions were a display of vintage cars as well as the Bacon Family Amusements and Candy Bar, a bouncy castle and trampoline.

In the afternoon all vantage points around Summerleaze Beach were filled by spectators to witness rescue demonstrations. They were told that Bude RNLI cover seven beaches and that already this year they had carried out 198 rescues. Then volunteer lifeboat crew took part in displays with both the D-class inshore lifeboat and the rescue water craft. This involved beach lifeguards and a cliff rescue demonstration by Bude coastguard rescue team.

Finally the unforgettable weekend reached a climax late evening with a grand firework display by Kernow Fireworks.

The RNLI is a charity that saves lives at sea so the main purpose of Bude’s Lifeboat Weekend is to raise money to maintain this vital service. A painting entitled ‘Storm Force’ by local artist Alan Merchant-White, showing a boat in distress from the point of view of an RNLI crew on their way to its aid, was the special prize in a raffle. The event was organised by the station’s crew, fundraising team and many volunteers about whom one contributor to the RNLI Facebook page wrote: “Don’t think people know how much you guys give up to make this happen, not only taking time off work, but you all do it for something you are passionate about and it becomes a family tradition, The months of preparation that go into this one weekend is astounding, so thank you all so much. It was an amazing weekend.”