Shelley the Lifeboat Labrador (13 page)

I went there in February there which was their summer which was of course the winter in the UK.  It was not long though before the routine of work took over and I was off visiting my clients across the UK. Shelley loved to be back in the car whilst I gave her a few more walks than normal due to a slight weight increase at the kennel.  Sadly they didn’t walk her like I did so I think she appreciated the extra time out on the beaches.  I always kept her on the beaches after the time she got lost in the woods when she was a lot younger.  She was always popping her little head up to see if I was around and I likewise would call her if she wandered too far.                                    

I went to the Isle of Wight on business for a couple of days and took her over on the ferry – she loved that.  I had booked in at a very nice up-market hotel near Cowes. I always remember the owner would come into the bar each evening and insist on reading the menu to every guest as though he were a Shakespearian actor.  He did it with such zest and was so proud of its contents, recommending every dish.

I took Shelley out most evenings for a walk and on the first night I went around the back of the hotel by the open swimming pool which was covered with a green tarpaulin.  Before I knew it Shelley had jumped onto it.  I did not realise that it was not tied down to the sides and within a few seconds the tarpaulin began to sink wrapping itself around Shelley taking her with it under the water.

I yelled and ran towards the hotel and one of the staff went to the nearby shed and got a pole pulling the cover towards one end of the pool.  Shelley had enough sense to realise what was happening and beat a hasty retreat to the other end and up the pool steps to join us.  It was the first time I had ever seen her genuinely frightened and up-set.  She never went anywhere near it again during out stay and the owner insisted on buying me Gin and Tonics for the duration of my visit and feeding Shelley on some rather special kitchen titbits.  Sometimes things that go wrong do bring advantages; why not!

The island had several lifeboat stations and I managed to get to visit most of them. Bembridge was very much like ours at Shoreham with a slipway whilst the Yarmouth one had a water based boat which was a lot faster and more powerful called an Arun type.  As usual both of us were made very welcome.  I did not realise it at the time but Chris and Mike Fox used to go there a lot and had established a relationship with the landlady of the crew’s local in Yarmouth often staying there.  They kept than one quiet! 

End of Chapter Seventeen

DOG SHOW AND CHRISTMAS ROTARY – CHAPTER 18

Shelley was never a dog that required attention for the sake of it. To her it had to be given the way it was intended – genuine and with feeling.  This was the proven case when a dog show was held to raise funds for the RNLI at the Lighthouse Club which was situated next to the boathouse.

The Lighthouse Club was not a favourite haunt of mine but sometimes the then manager did support us at the Lifeboat and gave the premises to us free for functions.  It proved to be an ideal venue with its nice concrete patio area in the front, overlooking the sea where the show could be held.  The club provided a bar open all day and also some sandwiches with help from the crews wives.  Most lifeboat stations could not survive without the support of the wives and they are the backbone of every station in the country.  Mind you they also have a controlling influence over their men folk knowing that they can sometimes wander off the straight and narrow.

The show was organised by the local branch of the RNLI and linked to a local dog society.  On the day it was to be held the weather was great and lots of people turned up with their dogs.  The crew helped out and prepared the event along with local branch members.  I must admit I was a little surprised when I saw tables being set up and some very doggy type people walking around.  From our point of view the bar stayed open all afternoon which was a bonus.

I joined the queue to register Shelley and I had brought another dog along called Danny who was a Bichon Frise.  He belonged to a friend of mine Brenda Burns whom I had met a few months earlier.  Brenda was a widow and had moved into Shoreham from Hove and I was introduced to her at the Schooner at Southwick.  Over many years we were to remain close friends spending a lot of time together.  Brenda was away for the weekend so I had agreed to take Danny out for the day.  Both Shelley and Danny got on well so there were no problems on that front.

Once I got to the registration table I was asked if both were Kennel Club Registered and had they entered any competitions before and won any regional heats.  I was then given a number and told to wait my turn to show them.  I decided to give Danny to Chris Fox who was only too pleased to help out.  If you don’t know what a Bichon Frise is, the easiest way to describe it is that it looks like a white bundle of fluff that has four legs and makes people either say ‘what a cute dog it is’ or directly opposite ‘what on earth is that!’

After a while I was called and proceeded to take Shelley around in a circle with other dogs and Chris followed with Danny.  All seemed fine until Shelley decided she wanted to have a sniff at the dog in front and this was then followed by Danny yapping at high level. The lady in front turned to me saying, “Can’t you keep your dog under control do you realise I have driven all the way from Newcastle so my dog’s can get approved for Crufts.”  I frankly was stunned as I assumed I was at a small local dog show raising funds for the RNLI.

“Bring your dog here” said a gentleman from behind a table. Putting her on the table in front of this arrogant looking man in a pin stripped suit he started to prod her from top to toe followed by a mini veterinary examination finally holding her tail up along with her head whilst two other judges looked at her.  I was then told “She is fine but has no potential as a showing dog and looks a little thin,” to which I replied she eats more than most and as far as I am concerned is what a good dog should look like.”

Poor Chris got the next instalment of his gruff nature. “Not what a Bichon should look like; his coat is not trimmed properly and his eyes are not clean.  If you want this to be a showing dog then you have a long way to go!”  That was it!  We had taken enough insults for one day removing both dogs from the competition.  I then had a wander around only to see a lot of dogs sitting in their cars having a nice grooming and given the full works from their owners.  I asked one what was going on and was told that this is a good way for dogs to get up the step ladder towards entry for Crufts.  The more regional competitions they win the more chance they have, that’s why they were bringing them along to events like ours.

We were slightly confused to say the least.  It was meant to be a charity show but somehow had got itself listed as a regional event by the Kennel Club.  The afternoon turned out to be a real riot as more and more people turned up having driven from all over the country. Talk about dogs looking like their owners and visa versa.  I think there was more infighting from those that had entered and the dogs were snapping at each other resulting with some arguments amongst their owners.

The highlight of the day was the presentation of awards and the waffle that accompanied it.  There was no love lost at all.  I could not resist it and let Shelley off the lead who went into the water at the foot of the slipway and returned with a large stick and proceed to run amongst the owners soaking them at the same time followed by her pal Danny snapping at her tail to a loud round of applause from the lifeboat team. Needless to say no other dog shows were held there again and I looked at Crufts in a totally different perspective from then on!

Chris and his brother Mike had been in the crew for a long time as had many others.  It was often a tradition that sons followed fathers on a lifeboat.  Their mother Pearl became a great friend to me and eventually married the then head launcher Bill Owen following the death of her husband who was at that time the lifeboat coxswain Johnny Fox.                                                                   

Living alone meant that sometimes Christmas was often a sad time for me and for several years they had me around for Christmas lunch.                   

We would all meet in the Royal Sovereign for a drink on Christmas morning then Bill would take us back to Crown Road where they lived. Shelley was always invited and spoilt even being given a Christmas hat and ribbon to wear with a bell.   Before Bill married Pearl he had lived alone for many years and found like me that a dog was wonderful company. 

After Christmas lunch we would have a few more drinks and played some games then Bill would take us back to my flat.  It was such a nice gesture and I treasured the memories until this day.  They are still very close and good friends. Bill was head launcher at the lifeboat and gave me opportunities to do many different things as he did with other helpers when the lifeboat was launched.  A very fair man he was full of kindness and support for most of the crew.  His passion was rugby and Wales and during the season he used to link up with Harry and some other friends and do a round robin house visit when one of the matches was on.

At Christmas we also linked up with the local Rotary club and spent one evening walking around some of the estates collecting money for them.  Pearl always played Father Christmas and loved the annual event.  She sat on a sledge that was towed by a car giving sweets out to the children as we passed.  The rest of us would door knock with collecting boxes just ahead of the sledge which had carols playing at the same time.  We all put our lifeboat jumpers on and found that doing this helped get some extra money.  I took Shelley along and she loved every second of it walking to the front doors with the collecting box around her neck hoping that a small token for her support would wend its way in her direction.  At the end of the evening we all then moved onto John Harrison’s the Hon Secretary’s house for drinks and mince pies which Shelley enjoyed even more in the garden – no need to guess why! 

I was told by Chris that his late father once had a shout on Boxing Day.  At the time most of the crew were dressed up in fancy dress. They had dropped presents off at one the local residential homes when the maroons went off.  It was a hilarious as their cars arrived at the boathouse to see them get out in their fancy dress. Crew member Dave Wainwright even kept his beard and red hat on as the boat disappeared under a spray of water at the foot of the slipway.

Before high technology came in lifeboats were always launched by the firing of two maroons. They were very loud and could be heard across Shoreham day and night. The crew also received a phone call of three phone rings.  It was interesting to note that the maroons also often bought some extra funds into the station with envelopes containing money the following day put though the letter box. Shelley got used to the loud bangs which did not worry her at all and used to be ready to see me out of the flat door or to be asked to join me in the car. It was subject to the weather and what time of night it was!

One call involved both boats being out all night looking for a missing fisherman.  We had a call from one of the ILB crew Dave Wainwright for a pot of tea.  Not to let them down we made a huge pot putting it in the car with the relevant number of mugs and drove 6 miles along the coast to give it to them. 

Dawn was just up and once we got to the beach the tide was right out.  Three of us with Shelley in tow took it to the ILB which had come in on the surf (luke- warm strong tea was better than nothing at all).  An ideal opportunity for a swim for Shelley and a little trip in the ILB (against all rules) before they set off to join the search.  Sadly the body of the missing fisherman was found the next day by one of the beach groins caught up in a net a couple of miles down the coast.

Yes! They were the days – a lot of adrenalin created by a lot of excitement and fun – what more could one ask for?                                                   

End of Chapter Eighteen

WATER AND YET MORE WATER – CHAPTER 19

Shelley’s love of water was beyond the call of duty; at any given chance she would make an effort to get wet. From a puddle on a pavement to a fast running river if the chance was there she would go for it.

At the back of Lewes in Sussex, miles out in the country down a one track road lies a nice well established pub called The Anchor at Barcombe. To get to it required a course in map reading.  We were taken there one day by Gordon and his wife Maggie. Sometimes it was nice to go out for a drive in the country with other friends and be taken to different establishments.

The pub then was owned and run by a family called the Bovitt-Whites and on arrival it was just like turning up to a private house.  The difference was that there were Jaguar cars parked in the drive dating back in history as both father and son Graham were avid Jaguar car collectors.  They also loved jazz and had a large radiogram (yes radiogram!) playing the harmonic tones of Bud Freeman and Coleman Hawkins.