The Friends of Romsey Abbey visit to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Training College in Poole

RNLI Poole visitor briefing near bridge - 16.05.2016Thirty Friends of Romsey Abbey visited the RNLI in Poole on 16th May 2016.  The College is a series of new buildings overlooking Poole Bay Harbour.  It is a working college which features a world class Sea Survival Centre for all volunteer lifeboat crew members and beach lifeguards.  Groups from all over the British Isles travel to Poole to be trained on courses that can last a few days or several weeks.

The facilities include classrooms, twin lifeboat simulators with a mock-up rescue off Dover harbour as well as a four metre deep training pool with a wave generator that prepares crews for anything they might encounter at sea.  A video demonstrated the intensive training undertaken by these brave 40,000 volunteers who take part in this wonderful service. The RNLI is totally funded by charitable contributions and need £400,000 a day to run the organisation.

In the simulator the Friends embarked on an exciting rescue mission which involved two burning tankers, helicopters and other shipping getting imminently close to the danger area including a cruise liner and other smaller boats.

The full selection of photos can be found HERE

Everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable day out with excellent sunshine and a two course carvery lunch.  If you are interested in joining the Friends please contact the secretary Jill Hall 02380 731640 or email office@romseyabbeyfriends.org  Future events include an evening visit to the Romsey Signal box,  the Great Western Railway Society Museum at Didcot and the Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery in Overton.