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Scarborough Review
February - Issue 42
Lifeboats are in the blood for MBE recipient by Dave Barry A PROFESSIONAL lifeboatman from Scarborough has been awarded an MBE for services to maritime safety. Lee Firman, 39, was mentioned in the newyear honours list for services to the RNLI over the last 22 years. Lee was once thought to have been the youngest coxswain in the RNLI’s 192-year history - although details from the 19th century are sketchy. By an odd coincidence, the previous holder of this record was his dad Ian, who was 27 when he became coxswain of Scarborough lifeboat in 1983. Lifeboats are steeped in the Firman family’s blood. Lee’s grandfather Walt and great grandfather Jim were tractor drivers for Scarborough lifeboat. Born and bred in Scarborough, Lee lived with his family in the Bottom End and attended Friarage School. In 1987, when he was nine, his dad was appointed second coxswain on Humber lifeboat and the family moved into the fulltime lifeboat station at the end of Spurn Point. “It was a great place for a child to grow up”, says Lee, adding that he “lived and breathed lifeboats as a kid”. In 1990, the family returned to Scarborough and Lee went to Graham School. It was one of the few schools which taught pupils marine navigation and nautical studies at GCSE level; Lee took full advantage. He attended the Sixth Form College for a couple of months before his dad became coxswain at Aldeburgh RNLI, in 1994. Lee joined the crew a few months later and took over from his dad as coxswain in 2002, aged 25. He has been a full-time RNLI employee since 2000. In 2009, he became a fleet staff coxswain, living in Aldeburgh but working for the head office in Poole, taking lifeboats around the country. He was involved in trials projects for the Tamar- and Shannon-class lifeboats. “I was the lead coxswain in all the Shannon operational trials, which began in 2012, and I saw the first three put into service”, he says. To date, 17 have been launched, including
Father and son, Ian and Lee Firman, in Scarborough
The lifeboat crew in 1951. L-R: caretaker ? Dunn, signalman Tom Rowley, tractor driver Jim Firman, bowman Bill Sheader, mechanic Tom Mainprize, coxswain Jack Sheader, head launcher Sam Cammish, second coxswain Jack Cammish, mechanic Allan Rennard, launcher Tom Flynn, crewman Tom Scales, secretary Lou Sanderson and reserve tractor driver Bob Cammish.
Scarborough’s, which was delivered in November. Lee brought the RNLI’s first Shannon to Scarborough, as part of a coastal-hello tour in 2013. He has visited twice with other Shannons and has been in and out with various relief lifeboats. In 2015, the father of three became the charity’s divisional operations manager for north Wales, based in Chester. Lee recently became an area lifesaving manager for the east coast. Lee’s fisherman brother Mark lives in the old town of Scarborough, his mum, Gill Halder, lives in Burniston, and his grandparents, Walt and Madge, live in Castlegate. His dad has retired from the RNLI and works for the port authority in Lowestoft, as coxswain on a pilot boat. Ian was awarded a bronze medal for gallantry in 2000 for his part in the rescue of four Dutch crew aboard the Rosebank, a 30ft yacht. Ian was coxswain and Lee was second coxswain on that shout. Beyond his operational duties, Lee’s personable nature and dedication to the volunteers comes across strong, as he provides
pastoral care and support to volunteers at times of distress and tragedy. This has led him to be a driving force in championing a national standard of mental wellbeing training. On receiving the news of his MBE, Lee said: “I am immensely honoured and humbled. This isn’t just for me but it recognises the commitment of my family, giving me the time to volunteer and allowing me to be part of the RNLI for so many years”. He added: “It is testament to the commitment and support from the thousands of volunteer crews and fundraisers that have helped me achieve what I have and continue to do their Ian Firman at the helm of Scarborough lifeboat bit in helping to save lives at sea”. RNLI chief executive Paul Boissier commented: “I am extremely happy that Lee has been recognised with an MBE. He is a modest and reserved character but has the ability to lead and motivate those around him. This firm but fair leadership has shone through since his promotion to operations manager in 2015. He does not shy away from difficult decisions but pursues excellence in everything he does and this honour is thoroughly deserved”.
McCain sheds 10% of Eastfield workforce by Dave Barry
Audio newspaper charity seeks IT volunteers Words and photos by Dave Barry
A SCARBOROUGH charity which provides a valuable service for blind and partially sighted people is appealing for help. Talking News is short of volunteers with IT skills who can act as recorders. The digital recording equipment isn’t particularly complicated but needs to be operated by someone who is reasonably familiar with IT in general. “If you are fairly up to date with IT skills we would love to hear from you”, says chairman Malcolm Smith. “We can provide full training in how to operate the equipment”. Talking News has 43 clear-voiced volunteers who read cuttings from Scarborough Review and Scarborough News into microphones. Four recorders, led by Alan Atherton, ensure it is done properly and copy recordings onto 70 USB memory sticks and eight cassettetapes. They are distributed by Dial-a-Ride to about 80 listeners throughout the Scarborough area and beyond. The listeners either have sight
impairments or have difficulty reading a newspaper for other reasons. The recording studio is in the converted attic of Yorkshire Coast Sight Support, in Dean Road. Recordings are made on Wednesday Buff Tappenden-Rowell, vice-chairman of Yorkshire mornings. Coast Sight Support, Talking News, a listens to a recording registered charity, was established in 1982 at Allatt House in West Parade Road. It moved to its present premises after Allatt House was pulled down, about five years ago. “Our only outlay is for rent, insurance liability and occasionally replacing the memory sticks”, Malcolm says. “We rely on donations and we don’t ask listeners for anything”. If you would like to join Talking News, ring Malcolm on 583177 or email him at bruce@ malcs70.plus.com.
L-R: readers Alan Card, Heather Bogg and Sylvia Snow with chairman Malcolm Smith and, behind the glass panel, chief recorder Alan Atherton
L-R: readers Alan Card, Heather Bogg and Sylvia Snow with editor Mary Grunwell
MCCAIN’S are planning to cut a tenth of their workforce. Seventy-four of the 736 jobs at the frozenfood giant’s Eastfield plant are under threat. Subject to employee consultations, McCain says the move will affect 74 hourly and salaried positions. The company wants to close the cold and dry storage facility at Eastfield and outsource the work. The 45-year-old facility is coming to the end of its serviceable life and no longer remains economically viable to maintain and operate, said corporate affairs director Bill Bartlett. He said: “To ensure the long-term sustainability of the overall facilities at Scarborough, and following a review of both cold and dry store requirements on site, the company proposes, subject to consultation, to close the Scarborough stores in their current format over the coming months and outsource its requirements to third-party expertise. “This proposal, subject to consultation, may present options to alleviate some of the space constraints within the site”, Mr Bartlett said. McCain is considering the possibility of updating the manufacturing capacity at Eastfield, Mr Bartlett added.