A Marathon Blog!!

A week ago we had a long overdue catch-up with friends Alan and Kim when they came to see us. After a pleasant walk along the sea wall to see our new lifeboat station we went back home for dinner (cooked by James! – surprise or what!).

On our return we found squatters in the back garden!

The weekend of the 8th / 9th April was the Brighton Marathon and our daughter Vicki, and her partner Ian, came to stay with us as they were due take part. After getting to our designated park and ride venue at 7 o’ clock Sunday morning we found we had to walk a mile to board the buses! On the way we popped into the Brighton and Hove Albion stadium for a wee-stop. James has never seen inside a football stadium before!

At Preston Park we met up with Vicki and Ian’s friends Fiona and Robbie. Here’s James (who was not running), Vicki (who was to run the marathon but she developed ankle problems and has deferred until next year), Fiona (running the 10k), Ian (running the 10k) and “Ironman” Robbie (running the marathon).

The 10k race started at 8:30 and Fiona and Ian are about to go through their respective ‘start gates’ – red and blue.

The crowds in Preston Park were quite amazing!

Ready, steady ……..

…….. go!!!

We managed to spot Ian, who was well towards the front of the ‘red’ group who started first …….

……. and, not long after, the ‘blue’ runners started to come through with Fiona looking very buoyant!

Vicki, Doug and James took a brisk walk through the town towards the finishing line at the seafront and were able to see some of the 10k runners (on their much more tortuous route to the finish!)

The iconic Royal Pavilion looked glorious in the morning sunshine.

We managed to get as close as we could to the finishing line just before Ian came past. With just 100 yards to the finish he had a very respectable time under his belt.

Here are the lovely couple reunited after Ian had collected his medal. Well done Ian!

For James it was also very tiring work watching all these people running around! Joking aside, at the end of the day, Vicki’s fancy wrist watch cum ‘everything medical, physical and sporty’ said that we’d actually walked over 10 miles!

After Ian and Fiona finished we were able to watch the marathon runners (who started at 9:15am) at various points along the route. Here’s a very fit Robbie (who’s seems to have enough energy to lark around as well!) coming along the seafront before heading off to Portslade and back!

After seeing Robbie off on his way to Portslade we all went to a café in St James Street for breakfast and it was there that we were able to get close up with some of the 20,000 marathon runners.

Some sporting some weighty outfits! ……..

…… and some entrants putting the rest of us to great shame!

It was a great surprise to find a couple of our cruise friends (all the way from Ipswich) also in town. We joined Darren, who’s wife Jen was running in the marathon, and his friend Tracey for drink while all the others were pounding the streets!

Here are some views of the seafront, the crowds and the runners.

It turned out to be an amazing day of excitement and success for Ian, Fiona and Robbie, who all returned amazingly good times. Vicki was disappointed not to have been able to enter but there’ll be other marathons and, of course, Brighton next year.  It was a great day to remember.

Two Farewells.

Our cruise entry would not be complete without a photo of our two wonderful table waiters Arvin and Franky. With their dedication and humour they added enormously to our dining experience each evening, but so too did ………

……. our dining friends Anita and Alan. With Franky and Arvin attending us it was a joyous couple of hours we all spent together. The ‘farewell’ at the end of the cruise is always softened by the fact that we shall meet again no doubt.

Oh, yes – our lovely friend Dolreich (who was wine-waiting very close to us) didn’t want to be left out. He often came over for a laugh and a chat as most of his customers were “a bit quiet”!

Our early disembarkation went very smoothly and our friend, and crew member, Laurie gave us a lift home. He stayed for a quick coffee before heading off.

Back home in Selsey we were able to take part in another sad farewell - that of our lovely old Lifeboat station. The crowds began to gather just before 11 o’ clock on April 1st ………

……… for the last launch of the lifeboat from the old station.

More and more people arrived for the big event and began to fill our, usually very peaceful, beach.

Bang on the appointed hour the 47ft Tyne Class lifeboat slid speedily down the ramp ……..

…….. and, with the usual spray of water, 57 years of launching from the iconic boathouse came to an end.

After settling in the water for a few seconds …….

…….. the “Voluntary Worker” powered up it’s engines for a victory ‘fly past’.

The pilot showed off the boats marvellous manoeuvrability.



Then it slowed down for a graceful passing, close to shore, when the crowds could show their appreciation for these wonderful brave people who regularly risk their own lives at sea to save others.

The mantle of life saving by the Selsey RNLI now passes to the brand new land based Lifeboat Station which now awaits its brand new (Shannon class) lifeboat.

In the meantime “Voluntary Worker” will stay at anchor just off the shore and remain operational until the new boat arrives later in the year. It will be reached by the smaller inshore lifeboats.

The public were allowed to visit the old station for the last time. For 57 years this building has served the RNLI but now stands empty.

The massive winching mechanism, used to haul the lifeboat back into the shed, will undoubtedly be sold on to winch in some other place.

The slipway, sadly, will not see another boat.

“Voluntary Worker” now lies off the shore and waiting for her next call out – which is sure to happen.


It was great to get some photos of the beach from the station. This is looking towards the “Bill” of Selsey Bill and ……….

…….. in the other direction we look towards the East Beach end of Selsey and beyond that Pagham.

A picture for posterity!

The gangway from the shore to the station building is 120 yards long.


Bolted to the handrail of the gangway is the original holder for the mortars which, when let off, sounded a load bang to call the volunteer lifeboat crew to an emergency. 

A great view of the station building and the lifeboat lying at anchor.

The crowds turned out in huge numbers to say ‘thank you’ and ‘farewell’ to a famous landmark and to welcome it’s successor which will undoubtedly continue to support the sterling service carried out by Selsey Lifeboat Volunteers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhrQ96TgxwI&feature=youtu.be