Lifeboat station marks 125 years of family ties

A lifeboat station which opened in 1901 is marking its 125th year of saving lives at sea.

The RNLI station in Minehead, Somerset, was built after a crew in Devon in 1899 was unable to launch and had to walk the craft 13 miles to Porlock Weir during a storm.

Nowadays, it holds two rescue craft for its volunteers, with several members able to trace family through the station's history.

Andrew Escott, the crew's launch authority, said one of his distant relatives was the original coxswain in 1901, while his great, great uncle Tom Escott was killed in 1941 while investigating a suspicious object at sea.

Escott said the anniversary was important to him, due to his family's history.

After his relative William Martin was coxswain, his father "continued tradition", spending 56 years with the RNLI.

"And I've done 39 years now," he said.

"Also, my grandad was the winchman here at Minehead, so a very long history."

Five decades ago, Karla Fresher's great uncle Harold was the station's last ever coxswain, and now she helms both crafts in Minehead.

"There was always a member of my family going back for years and years," she said, adding she was able to trace her lineage back to the station.

Reflecting on the importance of the station now, Fresher said she loves "being a part of it", but called the local coastline "very very dangerous".

"We just want everybody to be able to [use the water] but to do it safely," she added.

It is also a family affair for Harrison Webber, following in the footsteps of his mum, Raji, who has been a crew member for 14 years.

"I've been on the crew for a year and a half now, and it's a legacy," said Webber.

"Ever since I was probably about four or five, I've been showing up to the barbecues and the pubs and dinners and all sorts of stuff, and just known [the crew] since I was a little kid and it's always interested me."

Barry Cockrem started voluntering in the 1960s, after seeing his father and grandfather on the crew.

He remembered: "Everything was more basic, very little health and safety I suppose you'd say."

"I must admit I've come out of some launches with a few bumps and bangs and wet feet and things like that, but it always worked and always will work," he said.

Cockrem said it was great being part of the 125th anniversary celebrations, adding he even saw clips of his father in the presentation.

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