Reflecting On The Inaugural Week

The last plate of the day at Happisburgh...

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As I write this, I’m sitting in the bay window of my hotel room in Cromer with the North Sea crashing around outside. Right outside.

Cromer Pier from my hotel window, the Lifeboat Station slipway visible a the end...
Cromer Pier from my hotel window, the Lifeboat Station slipway visible a the end…

It’s now dark and the pier lights are illuminated. Glowing at the end of the pier sits the famous Cromer Lifeboat Station; the big one as it’s often known, largely due to it being home to the most decorated lifeboatman ever, Henry Blogg.

The Lifeboat Station and Henry Blogg are central to the community here. It’s tangible everywhere in this small town.

The monument to him at the cliff top ends by saying, “One of the bravest men who ever lived.”

Today (Saturday), having now visited four stations in my 237 station mission, I shall be working with the crew of this famous station and simply can’t wait to stand on the slipway at the end of the pier with my big ol’ camera and start making plates at the big one.

And what of the week just gone? Well, where do I start?

The last time I wrote was only a few days ago when I’d just visited Southwold.

So much has happened in the meantime and it’s all been perfect — so much so that I simply can’t get over it. Of course, I don’t want to get over it, I’m going to savour it for as long it’s here in my life…

Here are some highlights as I gear up towards the week ahead (the itinerary can be found at the end of this post):

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Coxswain, Paddy Lee, holds his 10x12" portrait on glass...
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Coxswain, Paddy Lee, holds his 10×12″ portrait on glass…
The Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Crew, 10x12" Ambrotype, 14th January 2015
The Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Crew, 10×12″ Ambrotype, 14th January 2015
Setting up 'that portrait' of John Fox...
Setting up ‘that portrait’ of John Fox…
In the wash, John Fox (Lowestoft's Coxswain)...
In the wash, John Fox (Lowestoft’s Coxswain)…
John Fox standing on the stern of his new Shannon Class lifeboat, glass portrait in hand…
John Fox standing on the stern of his new Shannon Class lifeboat, glass portrait in hand…
Beach manoeuvres at Happisburgh Lifeboat Station...
Beach manoeuvres at Happisburgh Lifeboat Station…
5 seconds in the life of Happisburgh Coxswain, Tim Grimmer, captured for posterity on 10x12" glass...
5 seconds in the life of Happisburgh Coxswain, Tim Grimmer, captured for posterity on 10×12″ glass…
The Happisburgh Lifeboat Station launching ramp (10x12" Ambrotype)
The Happisburgh Lifeboat Station launching ramp (10×12″ Ambrotype)
5 seconds in the life of the Happisburgh Lifeboat crew captured for posterity on 10x12" glass...
5 seconds in the life of the Happisburgh Lifeboat crew captured for posterity on 10×12″ glass…
East Anglian Daily Times, Tuesday 13th January 2015
East Anglian Daily Times, Tuesday 13th January 2015
Wally Webb interviewing me live on BBC Radio Norfolk...
Wally Webb interviewing me live on BBC Radio Norfolk…

The remaining itinerary for this inaugural trip:

  • Cromer: Saturday 17th January
  • Sheringham: Sunday 18th January
  • Wells: Monday 19th January
  • Hunstanton: Tuesday 20th January

4 Comments

  1. Hi, thats a brilliant idea, will you be coming to the Isle of Man?

    We have 5 stations as you may already know. I’m a Coastguard volunteer based in Douglas, we have a few old photographs of the rocket brigade and to have a team photo would be superb.

    Any how’s hope you get here!

    Regards

    Simon

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